Chess Puzzle #ASnLZ — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen e4; rook c1; bishop f4; knight d3; pawns e5/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen b5; rook e8; bishop g7; knight c6; pawns b3/d4/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: f5 — pawn f7→f5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc6 — queen e4→c6, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxc6+ (queen b5→c6, captures queen, gives check).
3. Best move: Rxc6 — rook c1→c6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/5pbp/2n3p1/1q2P3/3pQB2/1p1N2P1/5PKP/2R5 b - - 1 26

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