Chess Puzzle #H9Dq0 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e2; queen b5; rook h1; bishop d4; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen h8; rook a8; bishops e6/e7; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen h8→d4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen b5→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Bd8 (bishop e7→d8).
3. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen e8→e6, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1k4q/ppp1b2p/3pb3/1Q6/3BN3/8/PP2KPPP/7R b - - 0 19

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