Chess Puzzle #1dh1q — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/e1; bishops e2/f4; knight b1; pawns a4/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop a6; knights c6/e4; pawns b4/c3/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: b3 — pawn b4→b3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxb3 — queen c2→b3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bxe2 (bishop a6→e2, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Rxe2 — rook e1→e2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxb3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2qk2r/5ppp/b1n1p3/3p4/Pp1PnB2/2p1P3/2Q1BPPP/RN2R1K1 b kq - 1 16

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