Chess Puzzle #F0XsN — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h3; queen f5; bishop g4; knight f3; pawns a3/b4/g3/h4. Black: king f8; queen e8; bishops c6/f6; pawns a6/b5/d3/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf7 — queen e8→f7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc5+ — queen f5→c5, gives check. Opponent replies Be7 (bishop f6→e7).
3. Best move: Qxc6 — queen c5→c6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, fork, master, short. The key move is Qc5+.

Position data

FEN: 4qk2/8/p1b2b1p/1p3Q2/1P4BP/P2p1NPK/8/8 b - - 9 38

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