Chess Puzzle #535kN — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e3; queen h5; rooks d1/d2; bishop c3; pawns a2/b3/c5/d4/f4/g2. Black: king g7; queen c6; rooks d7/d8; bishop f6; pawns a7/b7/e4/e6/f5/g3. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: d5 — pawn d4→d5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxc5+ — queen c6→c5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bd4 (bishop c3→d4).
3. Best move: Bxd4+ — bishop f6→d4, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, master, master vs master, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r4/pp1r2k1/2q1pb2/2P2p1Q/3PpP2/1PB1K1p1/P2R2P1/3R4 w - - 6 30

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