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

Position

White: king g1; queen g6; rooks a1/f1; knight f3; pawns b2/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a2; rooks a8/e8; bishops e6/g7; pawns a7/b5/c6/f6/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb2 — queen a2→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxa7 — rook a1→a7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxa7 (rook a8→a7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen g6→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
4. Best move: Qxe6 — queen e8→e6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

deflection, equality, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/p5b1/2p1bpQp/1p6/3P4/5N1P/qP3PP1/R4RK1 b - - 2 23

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