Chess Puzzle #2E19N — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen a4; rook h1; bishops c1/g2; knights c3/c6; pawns a2/b2/f2/g4/h3. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops f8/g6; knight b4; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc6 — knight b4→c6, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bxc6+ — bishop g2→c6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies bxc6 (pawn b7→c6, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen a4→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qd7 (queen d8→d7).
4. Best move: Qxa8+ — queen c6→a8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, long, middlegame. The key move Bxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2qkb1r/pp3ppp/2N3b1/8/Qn4P1/2N4P/PP3PB1/2B2K1R b kq - 0 17

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