Chess Puzzle #k5vwh — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen d6; rooks b1/c1; bishop a3; knight d2; pawns a2/b5/d5/e4/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks a8/c8; bishop g7; knight h5; pawns a5/e5/f4/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd2 — queen d4→d2, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe6+ — queen d6→e6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c1→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook a8→c8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen e6→c8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, long, middlegame. The key move Rxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1r3k1/6b1/3Q3p/pP1Pp2n/3qPp2/B4P2/P2N3P/1RR2K2 b - - 2 29

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