Chess Puzzle #8hQZ2 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a2; queen b3; bishop h2; knight h8; pawns a4/b2/c2/f2/g4/h4. Black: king d7; queen e4; rook a8; bishop h6; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight f6→d5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxb7+ — queen b3→b7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nc7 (knight d5→c7).
3. Best move: Qxc7+ — queen b7→c7, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, master, middlegame, short. The key move Qxb7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r6N/pp1k2pp/2p2n1b/8/P3q1PP/1Q6/KPP2P1B/8 b - - 4 32

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