Chess Puzzle #aYGgs — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e2; queen d2; rooks a3/h1; bishop g2; knight g4; pawns c2/d3/e4/f2/g3/h3. Black: king g7; queen d8; rooks b2/f8; bishop c8; knight f6; pawns a5/d4/d6/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc7 — queen d8→c7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh6+ — queen d2→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g7→h8).
3. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen h6→f8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, middlegame, short, skewer. The key move Qxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2bq1r2/5pkp/3ppnp1/p7/3pP1N1/R2P2PP/1rPQKPB1/7R b - - 1 18

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