Chess Puzzle #3NbeA — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen c7; rook a1; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/e6/f5/h2/h5. Black: king e8; queen d4; rooks a8/h6; bishop f8; knight b8; pawns a7/b6/c6/e7/f6/g7. Black is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Na6 — knight b8→a6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen c7→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
3. Best move: Qxa8+ — queen c6→a8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: rn2kb2/p1Q1p1p1/1pp1Pp1r/5P1P/3q4/8/PP5P/RNK5 b q - 1 17

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