Chess Puzzle #6VLkd — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d2; rooks d1/f1; knight c3; pawns a3/b4/c2/g2/g3. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; bishops d4/e6; pawns a6/b5/d5/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxc3 — bishop d4→c3, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc3 — queen d2→c3, captures bishop. Opponent replies d4 (pawn d5→d4).
3. Best move: Rxd4 — rook d1→d4, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/8/pq2b2p/1p1p2p1/1P1b4/P1N3P1/2PQ2P1/3R1R1K b kq - 1 23

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