Chess Puzzle #8NXRm — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rooks e1/f2; bishop g2; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks e7/e8; bishop g7; knight g3; pawns a7/b7/c6/e4/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: e3 — pawn e4→e3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc7 — queen f4→c7, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxc7 (rook e7→c7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rf3 — rook f2→f3.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/ppq1rpbp/2p3p1/8/3PpQP1/2P3nP/PP1N1RB1/4R1K1 b - - 1 26

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