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

Position

White: king h1; queen b4; rooks b8/g1; bishop e3; pawns a2/b2/e5/g2. Black: king e8; queen c6; rooks c8/f8; bishop d5; pawns a7/f7/h4/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rg8 — rook f8→g8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc1 — rook g1→c1. Opponent replies Rxb8 (rook c8→b8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxb8+ — queen b4→b8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move Qxb8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1Rr1kr2/p4p2/2q4p/3bP3/1Q5p/4B3/PP4P1/6RK b - - 1 37

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