Chess Puzzle #1C4d6 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d1; queen b1; rook g1; bishops e2/h2; knight d2; pawns b3/c3/d4/f3/h4. Black: king h8; queen c6; rooks a8/f8; bishop g7; knight b8; pawns a5/b6/c7/d6/e6/f6/h5. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen c6→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qg6 — queen b1→g6. Opponent replies Qa1+ (queen c3→a1, gives check).
3. Best move: Kc2 — king d1→c2.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, middlegame, short. The key move is Qg6.

Position data

FEN: rn3r1k/2p3b1/1pqppp2/p6p/3P3P/1PP2P2/3NB2B/1Q1K2R1 b - - 2 22

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