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

Position

White: king e3; queen h3; rook a1; pawns a4/b3/c3/d4/e5/g5. Black: king g6; queen a6; rook f5; pawns a7/b6/c6/d5/e7/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxg5 — rook f5→g5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe6+ — queen h3→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g6→h7).
3. Best move: Qxe7+ — queen e6→e7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rg7 (rook g5→g7).
4. Best move: Qh4 — queen e7→h4.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, long. The key move Qxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/p3p3/qpp3k1/3pPrPp/P2P4/1PP1K2Q/8/R7 b - - 0 32

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