Chess Puzzle #Qh59g — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen a5; rooks d1/f7; knight d4; pawns a3/c4/e3/h2. Black: king c8; queen e4; rooks d8/h3; bishop e5; pawns a6/c7/g4/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe3 — rook h3→e3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxa6+ — queen a5→a6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qb7 (queen e4→b7).
3. Best move: Qe6+ — queen a6→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
4. Best move: Nc6+ — knight d4→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc6 (queen b7→c6, captures knight).
5. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxa6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr4/2p2Rp1/p7/Q3b3/2PNq1p1/P3P2r/7P/2KR4 b - - 1 23

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