Chess Puzzle #Du1N9 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen d5; rooks a1/a4; pawns d3/e4/f2/f7/h3. Black: king c7; queen b7; rooks g4/h4; bishop b6; pawns a7/c5/d6/e5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd5 — queen b7→d5, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: exd5 — pawn e4→d5, captures queen. Opponent replies Rf4 (rook g4→f4).
3. Best move: f8=Q — pawn f7→f8, promotes to queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, endgame, equality, promotion, short. The key move exd5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 8/pqk2P2/1b1p4/2pQp3/R3P1rr/3P3P/5P1K/R7 b - - 0 40

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