Chess Puzzle #9Rx9d — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rook a1; bishops c2/h6; knight c5; pawns a2/c4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks a8/e8; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/c3/f5/f7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc5 — queen d4→c5, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf5 — queen h5→f5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Ng6 (knight e5→g6).
3. Best move: Qxc5 — queen f5→c5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move Qxf5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/pp3p2/7B/2N1np1Q/2Pq4/2p5/P1B3PP/R6K b - - 2 22

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