Chess Puzzle #4iDfO — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b2; queen c3; knight f5; pawns a3/e4/f3/h2. Black: king h7; queen f1; bishop a6; pawns c2/d3/f7/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: c1=Q+ — pawn c2→c1, promotes to queen, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc1 — queen c3→c1, captures queen. Opponent replies Qf2+ (queen f1→f2, gives check).
3. Best move: Kc3 — king b2→c3.

Tactical themes

endgame, equality, short. The key move Qxc1 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 8/5p1k/b7/5N1p/4P3/P1Qp1P2/1Kp4P/5q2 b - - 11 42

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