Chess Puzzle #JB7MH — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen e4; rook d1; bishops d3/f4; pawns a2/c4/g5. Black: king c8; queen g7; rook h8; bishop e7; pawns a7/b7/c6/e6/f7/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qh7 — queen g7→h7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe5 — queen e4→e5. Opponent replies Qh1+ (queen h7→h1, gives check).
3. Best move: Kf2 — king f1→f2. Opponent replies Bc5+ (bishop e7→c5, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxc5 — queen e5→c5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move is Qe5.

Position data

FEN: 2k4r/pp2bpq1/2p1p1p1/6P1/2P1QB2/3B4/P7/3R1K2 b - - 0 30

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