Chess Puzzle #1IWA5 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/f1; bishop b2; knight d5; pawns a2/b3/c2/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f3; bishop g7; knights b8/e7; pawns a7/b6/c7/d6/e5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd5 — knight e7→d5, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd5+ — queen d2→d5, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Rf7 (rook f3→f7).
3. Best move: Qxa8 — queen d5→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Qxd5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rn1q2k1/p1p1n1bp/1p1p2p1/3Np3/8/1P2PrP1/PBPQ1P1P/R4RK1 b - - 1 13

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