Chess Puzzle #1sP8b — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen c2; rooks d1/g3; bishops d3/g5; pawns a2/c3/f4/h2. Black: king g8; queen e3; rooks c8/f8; bishop b7; knight d5; pawns a7/b5/f7/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc3+ — knight d5→c3, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc3 — queen c2→c3, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxc3 (rook c8→c3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxe3 — rook g3→e3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/pb3pp1/8/1p1n2B1/5P2/2PBq1R1/P1Q4P/1K1R4 b - - 4 24

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