Chess Puzzle #nVOo0 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rooks a1/e1; bishops c1/d5; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f7; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/e7; knights c6/e4; pawns a7/b7/c7/d4/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kf6 — king f7→f6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen h5→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Ke5 (king f6→e5).
3. Best move: Qxe4+ — queen h4→e4, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, opening, short. The key move Qxe4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bq3r/ppp1bk1p/2n3p1/3B3Q/3pn3/8/PPP2PPP/RNB1R1K1 b - - 0 10

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