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

Position

White: king h2; queen c4; rooks c1/f1; bishop d4; knight c7; pawns a3/b4/e5/f2/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks c8/f8; bishops d7/e7; pawns a7/b7/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc7 — queen b6→c7, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc7 — queen c4→c7, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxc7 (rook c8→c7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxc7 — rook c1→c7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/ppNbbpp1/1q2p2p/4P3/1PQB2P1/P6P/5P1K/2R2R2 b - - 0 22

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