Chess Puzzle #D6Wxt — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks c1/f1; pawns d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen b4; rook f6; knights c3/e7; pawns a5/d5/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf5 — knight e7→f5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc3 — queen e3→c3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxc3 (queen b4→c3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxc3 — rook c1→c3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5k2/4n1p1/5r2/p2p4/1q1P4/2n1Q3/5PPP/2R2RK1 b - - 4 28

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