Chess Puzzle #3okK9 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a2; rooks d1/e5; bishop b2; pawns c3/d3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen c7; rooks f7/f8; bishop c6; pawns a4/a5/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen c7→e5, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: c4 — pawn c3→c4. Opponent replies Qxb2 (queen e5→b2, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qxb2+ — queen a2→b2, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, quiet move, short. The key move Qxb2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/2q2r1p/2b3p1/p3R3/p7/2PP4/QB3PPP/3R2K1 b - - 0 26

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