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

Position

White: king h2; queen f3; rook g1; knight e2; pawns a2/b3/c4/d5/h3. Black: king h8; queen e1; rook f5; bishop e5; knight d1; pawns a7/b7/d6/f4. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe2+ — queen e1→e2, captures knight, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe2 — queen f3→e2, captures queen. Opponent replies f3+ (pawn f4→f3, gives check).
3. Best move: Qxe5+ — queen e2→e5, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe5 (rook f5→e5, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxd1 — rook g1→d1, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, exposed king, hanging piece, long. The key move Qxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 7k/pp6/3p4/3Pbr2/2P2p2/1P3Q1P/P3N2K/3nq1R1 b - - 5 38

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