Chess Puzzle #K5xOu — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e2; queen d1; rooks c1/h1; bishop f1; knight a8; pawns a2/b3/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king d8; queen c3; rook h8; bishops c8/d4; knights b8/g8; pawns a7/b7/c6/d6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qb4 — queen c3→b4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc4 — rook c1→c4. Opponent replies Qb5 (queen b4→b5).
3. Best move: Qxd4 — queen d1→d4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, interference, opening, short. The key move is Rc4.

Position data

FEN: Nnbk2nr/pp3ppp/2pp4/8/3bP3/1Pq5/P3KPPP/2RQ1B1R b - - 1 13

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