Chess Puzzle #5VZHW — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rooks c1/f2; knight e1; pawns a3/b4/e3/f4/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks d2/e8; bishop a7; pawns a6/c6/e4/f6/f7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc6 — queen c4→c6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxc6 — queen c7→c6, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxc6 (rook c1→c6, captures queen).
3. Best move: Bxe3 — bishop a7→e3, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Qxc6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/b1q2p1p/p1p2p2/8/1PQ1pPP1/P3P3/3r1R1P/2R1N1K1 w - - 0 23

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