Chess Puzzle #Eoa93 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen g5; rooks d1/e1; bishop d2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks d8/f8; bishop a5; knight f6; pawns a6/b4/c7/d4/e6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: bxc3 — pawn b4→c3, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc5 — queen g5→c5, captures queen. Opponent replies cxd2+ (pawn c3→d2, captures bishop, gives check).
3. Best move: Rxd2 — rook d1→d2, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bxd2+ (bishop a5→d2, captures rook, gives check).
4. Best move: Kxd2 — king c1→d2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Qxc5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/2p3pp/p3pn2/b1q3Q1/1p1pP3/2NP3P/PPPB2P1/2KRR3 b - - 1 20

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