Chess Puzzle #2YeJ3 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen d2; rook a7; knight g4; pawns b4/c3/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen d6; rook f8; knights e7/f4; pawns c7/d5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: dxe4 — pawn d5→e4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd6 — queen d2→d6, captures queen. Opponent replies cxd6 (pawn c7→d6, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxe7 — rook a7→e7, captures knight.

Tactical themes

capturing the defender, equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxd6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/R1p1n1p1/3q3p/3p4/1P2PnN1/2P4P/3Q1PPK/8 b - - 2 29

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