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

Position

White: king e2; queen d4; rooks b1/g2; bishops b5/f4; pawns e4/f2/h5. Black: king f8; queen h1; rooks b8/h8; bishop e7; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb1 — queen h1→b1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe5 — queen d4→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxb5+ (queen b1→b5, captures bishop, gives check).
3. Best move: Qxb5 — queen e5→b5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r3k1r/pp2bp2/7p/1B2n2P/3QPB2/8/4KPR1/1R5q b - - 5 26

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