Chess Puzzle #Ay1hj — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen c2; rooks c1/g1; bishop e2; knight c3; pawns a3/d4/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/c8; bishop b6; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/e6/f6/f7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc3+ — queen a5→c3, captures knight, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc3 — queen c2→c3, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxc3 (rook c8→c3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxc3 — rook c1→c3, captures rook. Opponent replies Ba5 (bishop b6→a5).
4. Best move: Kd2 — king e1→d2.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, long, middlegame. The key move Qxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rnr3k1/pp3p1p/1b2pp2/q7/3P4/P1N1P1P1/2Q1BP1P/2R1K1R1 b - - 0 16

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