Chess Puzzle #4E6SX — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen a4; rooks b1/f1; bishop b2; pawns a2/e4. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h3; bishop f8; knight h4; pawns a5/c7/d6/e5/f7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: c6 — pawn c7→c6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen a4→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qd7 (queen d8→d7).
3. Best move: Qxa8+ — queen c6→a8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

deflection, equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2qkb2/2p2p2/3p4/p3p3/Q3P2n/7r/PB6/1R2KR2 b q - 3 25

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