Chess Puzzle #9ISTQ — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks a1/e3; knight e5; pawns a3/b4/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c2; rooks c3/d8; bishop d5; pawns a7/b6/e6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf4 — queen g4→f4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qc1+ — queen c2→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Re1 (rook e3→e1).
3. Best move: Qxf4 — queen c1→f4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move is Qc1+.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/p4p1p/1p2p1p1/3bN3/1P1P2Q1/P1r1R3/2q2PPP/R5K1 w - - 1 22

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