Chess Puzzle #9EATU — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks c4/e6; bishop b2; knight c5; pawns a3/b4/d4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks e8/f8; bishop g5; knight d5; pawns a7/b7/f6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe6 — rook e8→e6, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd5 — queen f3→d5, captures knight. Opponent replies Re8 (rook f8→e8).
3. Best move: Nxe6 — knight c5→e6, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, hanging piece, intermezzo, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Qxd5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4rrk1/ppq3pp/4Rp2/2Nn2b1/1PRP4/P4QP1/1B5P/6K1 b - - 0 24

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