Chess Puzzle #MrHm3 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; queen f4; rooks a1/h1; bishop f1; knight f5; pawns a3/c3/d4/e3/f3/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks b8/e8; bishop a6; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nb6 — knight d7→b6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg5 — queen f4→g5. Opponent replies Qxc3+ (queen a5→c3, captures pawn, gives check).
3. Best move: Kxc3 — king d2→c3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move is Qg5.

Position data

FEN: 1r2r1k1/pp1n1ppp/b1p5/q2p1N2/3P1QP1/P1P1PP2/3K3P/R4B1R b - - 6 17

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