Chess Puzzle #2Dz0p — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rook d8; pawns a2/b2/c5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen g7; rook e8; knight g5; pawns a7/b7/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe5 — queen g7→e5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc3 — queen d3→c3. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
3. Best move: Rxe8 — rook d8→e8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxc3 (queen e5→c3, captures queen).
4. Best move: bxc3 — pawn b2→c3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, pin. The key move is Qc3.

Position data

FEN: 3Rr2k/pp4qp/6p1/2P2pn1/8/3Q3P/PP3PP1/6K1 b - - 3 29

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