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

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks a1/d1; bishop c1; pawns a2/b2/c2/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks a8/e4; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/c6/f6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe6 — queen d6→e6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe6 — queen g4→e6, captures queen. Opponent replies fxe6 (pawn f7→e6, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxd7 — rook d1→d7, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, capturing the defender, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/pp1n1pp1/2pq1p1p/8/4rPQ1/8/PPP3PP/R1BR2K1 b - - 1 17

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