Chess Puzzle #217VP — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen e2; rooks b2/h1; bishops d2/f1; knight d4; pawns c2/c3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks b8/h8; bishops a2/f8; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/d6/e7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bc4 — bishop a2→c4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc4 — queen e2→c4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxc4 (queen c7→c4, captures queen).
3. Best move: Bxc4 — bishop f1→c4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r2kb1r/ppq1pppp/3p1n2/8/3N4/2P4P/bRPBQPP1/4KB1R b Kk - 1 13

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