Chess Puzzle #3JG60 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rooks a1/f1; bishop b2; knight b1; pawns a2/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; knight f4; pawns a7/c6/c7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qg5 — queen d8→g5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen c4→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bd7 (bishop c8→d7).
3. Best move: Qxa8+ — queen c6→a8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1bqk2r/p1p2ppp/2p5/4P3/2Q2n2/8/PB3PPP/RN3RK1 b kq - 0 13

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