Chess Puzzle #8iq8k — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks a1/g3; knight a4; pawns a2/b3/c4/f5/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks a8/f8; bishop b7; knight g5; pawns a6/c5/d3/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd4+ — queen d6→d4, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd4 — queen g4→d4, captures queen. Opponent replies cxd4 (pawn c5→d4, captures queen).
3. Best move: hxg5 — pawn h4→g5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1b3pp1/p2q3p/2p2Pn1/N1P3QP/1P1p2R1/P5P1/R5K1 b - - 0 27

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