Chess Puzzle #EQkx4 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rook a1; bishop e2; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks d8/f8; knight a6; pawns a7/b7/c6/e7/f5/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: c5 — pawn c6→c5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bc4 — bishop e2→c4. Opponent replies Qxc4 (queen d5→c4, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Nxc4 — knight e5→c4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Bc4.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/pp2p2p/n1p5/3qNp2/3P4/2P4P/PP2B1P1/R2Q2K1 b - - 0 18

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