Chess Puzzle #HC2Bl — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d6; rooks d1/e1; bishop f3; pawns a2/b3/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e6; rooks a8/e7; bishop c4; pawns b6/c5/d4/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd6 — queen e6→d6, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: exd6 — pawn e5→d6, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxe1+ (rook e7→e1, captures rook, gives check).
3. Best move: Rxe1 — rook d1→e1, captures rook. Opponent replies Rd8 (rook a8→d8).
4. Best move: bxc4 — pawn b3→c4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move exd6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/4rp1p/1p1Qq1p1/2p1P3/2bp4/1P3B2/P4PPP/3RR1K1 b - - 2 23

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