Chess Puzzle #2My3a — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen e4; rooks a1/h1; bishop f3; knight b7; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/h8; knights a6/g8; pawns a7/c6/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb7 — queen c7→b7, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen e4→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc6 (queen b7→c6, captures queen).
3. Best move: Bxc6+ — bishop f3→c6, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k1nr/pNq2ppp/n1p1p3/8/4Q3/3P1B1P/PPP2PP1/R3K2R b KQkq - 2 15

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