Chess Puzzle #COWB7 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen e5; rooks d1/h1; pawns a3/b2/c2/f3/g4/h5. Black: king e7; queen b7; rook b8; bishop e6; knight f4; pawns a5/c6/e4/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf4 — queen e5→f4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxb2+ — queen b7→b2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king c1→d2).
3. Best move: Rd8+ — rook b8→d8, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, queenside attack, short. The key move Qxb2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r6/1q2kp1p/2p1b1p1/p3Q2P/4pnP1/P4P2/1PP5/2KR3R w - - 6 31

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