Chess Puzzle #43FBL — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen b3; rooks b1/g2; pawns b4/b5/c4/f2/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen h3; rooks d8/f8; pawns a7/b2/c7/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd2 — rook d8→d2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc3 — queen b3→c3. Opponent replies g6 (pawn g7→g6).
3. Best move: Qxd2 — queen c3→d2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, short. The key move is Qc3.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/p1p2pp1/7p/1P6/1PP5/1Q3P1q/1p3PRP/1R3K2 b - - 7 23

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