Chess Puzzle #Fqea5 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d7; rook f1; knight g4; pawns a2/b3/c4/e4/f2. Black: king f7; queen h3; rook f3; bishop g5; pawns c6/d6/e5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kg6 — king f7→g6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen d7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf7 (rook f3→f7).
3. Best move: Qe6+ — queen e8→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh5 (king g6→h5).
4. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen e6→f7, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, exposed king, long. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/3Q1kpp/2pp4/4p1b1/2P1P1N1/1P3r1q/P4P2/5RK1 b - - 3 31

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