Chess Puzzle #3x845 — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/f1; bishop f4; knights c3/e5; pawns a3/b2/d4/f2/g4/h3. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop d6; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa4+ — queen c2→a4, gives check. Opponent replies Nc6 (knight d4→c6).
3. Best move: Nxc6 — knight e5→c6, captures knight. Opponent replies bxc6 (pawn b7→c6, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen a4→c6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r2qk2r/pp3ppp/2nbpn2/3pN3/3P1BP1/P1N4P/1PQ2P2/R4RK1 b kq - 0 15

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