Chess Puzzle #FW5Os — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen c4; rook h1; knights a4/e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen a5; rooks b8/f8; pawns a7/c6/d4/e3/e5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rb4 — rook b8→b4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc5 — queen c4→c5. Opponent replies Qxc5 (queen a5→c5, captures queen).
3. Best move: Naxc5 — knight a4→c5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Qc5.

Position data

FEN: 1r3r1k/p5pp/2p5/q3p3/N1QpN3/4p3/PPP3PP/2K4R b - - 1 21

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