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

Position

White: king g3; queen f3; rooks d1/h1; pawns c3/g5/h7. Black: king h8; queen c4; rook f8; knights d5/d7; pawns a7/b7/c6/e6/f7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen c4→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc3+ — queen f3→c3, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Nxc3 (knight d5→c3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxd7 — rook d1→d7, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/pp1n1p1P/2p1p3/3n2P1/2q5/2P2QK1/8/3R3R b - - 0 24

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