Chess Puzzle #0iUCR — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c2; queen a7; rook a1; bishop g2; knight c6; pawns a2/d3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rook f8; bishops b4/e6; knight e2; pawns c7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd4+ — knight e2→d4, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd4 — queen a7→d4, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxd4 (queen d8→d4, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3q1rk1/Q1p2ppp/2N1b3/8/1b6/3P2P1/P1K1nPBP/R7 b - - 1 20

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