Chess Puzzle #Gedo2 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen b7; rook e3; bishop c1; pawns a4/b3/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a1; rook c8; knight a2; pawns a5/c2/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc1 — knight a2→c1, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen b7→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
3. Best move: Qxc2+ — queen c8→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nd3+ (knight c1→d3, gives check).
4. Best move: Ke2 — king f1→e2.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, hanging piece, long, pin. The key move Qxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/1Q3pp1/4p2p/p3P3/P7/1P2R3/n1p2PPP/q1B2K2 b - - 5 34

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