Chess Puzzle #CW31c — Intermediate, White to move, opening

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a4/f1; bishops c1/e2; knights b1/f3; pawns a5/b2/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops e7/g4; knights b4/c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd5 — queen d8→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd5 — queen d1→d5, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxd5 (knight b4→d5, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxg4 — rook a4→g4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxd5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/ppp1bppp/2n5/P2Pp3/Rn4b1/5N2/1P2BPPP/1NBQ1RK1 b - - 0 12

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