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

Position

White: king g1; queen b7; rooks a1/f1; bishop f4; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen e6; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knights d5/f7; pawns a7/c6/d6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc8 — queen e6→c8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen b7→c8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook a8→c8, captures queen).
3. Best move: exd5 — pawn e4→d5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/pQ3n1p/2ppq1p1/3n4/4PB2/5N2/PPP3PP/R4RK1 b kq - 0 15

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