Chess Puzzle #3y38h — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e2; queen e6; rook d3; pawns a4/c2/d5/f4/g2/h7. Black: king c7; queen a2; rooks a8/h8; bishop f6; knight d7; pawns b4/e5/e7. Black is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc4 — queen a2→c4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: d6+ — pawn d5→d6, gives check. Opponent replies exd6 (pawn e7→d6, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qxc4+ — queen e6→c4, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r6r/2knp2P/4Qb2/3Pp3/Pp3P2/3R4/q1P1K1P1/8 b - - 1 40

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