Chess Puzzle #4w9t9 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen g4; rooks f1/h1; bishop d3; pawns a2/c2/e4/g2/h2. Black: king d8; queen c3; rooks c8/f8; bishop e7; pawns a6/d6/f6/f7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd3 — queen c3→d3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen g4→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc8 (king d8→c8, captures queen).
3. Best move: cxd3 — pawn c2→d3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rk1r2/4bp1p/p2p1p2/8/4P1Q1/2qB4/P1P3PP/2K2R1R b - - 3 21

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