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

Position

White: king e2; queen d3; rooks a1/g1; bishop e3; knight d4; pawns c2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks d8/f6; bishops a4/b4; pawns a7/c7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd7 — queen d5→d7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc4+ — queen d3→c4, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
3. Best move: Qxb4 — queen c4→b4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qc4+.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/p1p3p1/5r1p/3q4/bb1N4/3QB2P/2P1K1P1/R5R1 b - - 7 30

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