Chess Puzzle #xzP5F — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen e4; rook d2; bishop e3; pawns b3/c2/f4/g5/h3. Black: king g8; queen f1; rook c8; bishop d6; pawns b4/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Be7 — bishop d6→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb7 — queen e4→b7. Opponent replies Rd8 (rook c8→d8).
3. Best move: Rf2 — rook d2→f2. Opponent replies Qe1 (queen f1→e1).
4. Best move: Qxe7 — queen b7→e7, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, fork, long. The key move is Qb7.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/5ppp/3bp3/6P1/1p2QP2/1P2B2P/2PR3K/5q2 b - - 2 28

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