Chess Puzzle #I12BM — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d5; bishop g3; knight d3; pawns e4/f3/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen c7; bishop d4; knight d7; pawns a5/e5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: a4 — pawn a5→a4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd4 — queen d5→d4, captures bishop. Opponent replies exd4 (pawn e5→d4, captures queen).
3. Best move: Bxc7 — bishop g3→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, master, master vs master, short. The key move Qxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 8/2qn1pkp/6p1/p2Qp3/3bP3/3N1PBP/6P1/7K b - - 2 39

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