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

Position

White: king c1; queen e3; rooks g1/h1; bishop g7; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/f2. Black: king g8; queen c4; rooks d8/f8; bishop b7; pawns a5/b6/c7/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxg7 — king g8→g7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe5+ — queen e3→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
3. Best move: Rxh5 — rook h1→h5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qf4+ (queen c4→f4, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxf4 — queen e5→f4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/1bp2pB1/1p4p1/p2P3p/2q5/4Q3/PPP2P2/2K3RR b - - 0 20

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