Chess Puzzle #424at — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen c2; rooks a1/h1; bishop d3; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; pawns a7/b7/c6/f5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd5 — queen d4→d5, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bc4 — bishop d3→c4. Opponent replies Be6 (bishop c8→e6).
3. Best move: Bxd5 — bishop c4→d5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Bc4.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/pp4pp/2p5/3N1p2/3q4/3B1P2/PPQ3PP/R4K1R b - - 0 18

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