Chess Puzzle #VA9EE — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen b3; rooks b1/e2; pawns a2/c4/f3/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen g3; rooks a8/h4; knight h5; pawns a6/b7/f7/g6/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf4 — knight h5→f4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxb7 — queen b3→b7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rd8 (rook a8→d8).
3. Best move: Qe7+ — queen b7→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f8→g8).
4. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen e7→d8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4k2/1p3pp1/p5p1/7n/2P4r/1Q3PqP/P3R1P1/1R5K b - - 2 25

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