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

Position

White: king f2; queen d6; rooks g3/h1; bishop e2; pawns a2/b2/c3/e4/f3/h2. Black: king e8; queen h4; rooks b8/h8; bishop h3; knight h5; pawns a7/c6/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd8 — rook b8→d8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe5+ — queen d6→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Be6 (bishop h3→e6).
3. Best move: Qxh8+ — queen e5→h8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Qxh8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r2k2r/p4p2/2pQ3p/7n/4P2q/2P2PRb/PP2BK1P/7R b k - 0 25

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