Chess Puzzle #sx5ui — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks a1/f4; knight b6; pawns a2/b2/g2. Black: king c8; queen h5; rooks d8/h8; knight f5; pawns a7/b7/e6/f3/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: axb6 — pawn a7→b6, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen b3→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
3. Best move: Qe5+ — queen e6→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Nd6 (knight f5→d6).
4. Best move: Qxh5 — queen e5→h5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Qxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/pp5p/1N2p3/5n1q/5R2/1Q3p2/PP4P1/R5K1 b - - 1 29

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