Chess Puzzle #0Ekgx — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen c3; rook d2; bishops b2/f1; pawns a3/b3/e4/f3/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen b6; rook d8; bishop g8; knight f2; pawns a5/b7/c7/f6/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd2 — rook d8→d2, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd2 — queen c3→d2, captures rook. Opponent replies Nxe4 (knight f2→e4, captures pawn).
3. Best move: fxe4 — pawn f3→e4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxd2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3r2bk/1pp3p1/1q3p1p/p7/4P3/PPQ2PP1/1B1R1nKP/5B2 b - - 14 37

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