Chess Puzzle #Cx1n8 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen a7; rook f1; bishop d3; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/e3/h2. Black: king e7; queen f3; rooks d8/h8; bishop d6; pawns b7/c7/e6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ra8 — rook d8→a8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd4 — queen a7→d4. Opponent replies e5 (pawn e6→e5).
3. Best move: Qxd6+ — queen d4→d6, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies cxd6 (pawn c7→d6, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxf3 — rook f1→f3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Qxd6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r3r/Qpp1k2p/3bp3/8/4N3/3BPq2/PP5P/2K2R2 b - - 2 24

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