Chess Puzzle #5womG — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rook e7; bishops g5/h1; knight h4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rook f8; bishops g7/h3; knight f2; pawns a7/b7/c6/d6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxd4 — bishop g7→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc4+ — queen e2→c4, gives check. Opponent replies Be6 (bishop h3→e6).
3. Best move: Qxd4 — queen c4→d4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qc4+.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/pp1qR1bp/2pp2p1/6B1/3P3N/6Pb/PPP1Qn1P/6KB b - - 1 20

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