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

Position

White: king h2; queen c2; rooks d1/f1; bishop c4; knight f7; pawns a4/c5/g2/g3. Black: king g8; queen e3; rooks a8/d8; bishops c8/e7; pawns b4/b7/e6/f5/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxf7 — king g8→f7, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf5+ — queen c2→f5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bf6 (bishop e7→f6).
3. Best move: Qh5+ — queen f5→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f7→g8).
4. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Qxf5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1br2k1/1p2bNp1/4p3/2P2p2/PpB5/4q1P1/2Q3PK/3R1R2 b - - 0 24

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