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

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rooks d1/f1; bishop g2; knight f4; pawns a2/b3/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e3; rooks a8/f8; knights d3/f6; pawns a5/b7/c6/e4/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ng4 — knight f6→g4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc4+ — queen c2→c4, gives check. Opponent replies Rf7 (rook f8→f7).
3. Best move: Nxd3 — knight f4→d3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, short. The key move is Qc4+.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1p4p1/2p2n1p/p7/4pN2/1P1nq1P1/P1Q3BP/3R1R1K b - - 1 28

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