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

Position

White: king c1; queen f5; rooks a1/h1; knight f3; pawns a4/b4/c5/f2/f6/h3. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/d8; bishop c4; pawns a7/c6/e3/e5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: gxf6 — pawn g7→f6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg4+ — queen f5→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qxc4 — queen g4→c4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qg4+.

Position data

FEN: r2r2k1/p3q1pp/2p2P2/2P1pQ2/PPb5/4pN1P/5P2/R1K4R b - - 1 24

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