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

Position

White: king d1; queen a4; rooks a1/h1; bishops b7/d2; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/e5/f4/g2/h3. Black: king b8; queen f2; rooks d8/h8; bishop f8; knights c6/f5; pawns f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd5 — rook d8→d5, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa8+ — queen a4→a8, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king b8→c7).
3. Best move: Qc8+ — queen a8→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Kb6 (king c7→b6).
4. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen c8→c6, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r1b1r/1B3ppp/2n5/3NPn2/Q4P2/7P/PP1B1qP1/R2K3R b - - 0 21

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