Chess Puzzle #KCR8t — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen f1; rook a1; bishop g3; knights d5/e5; pawns a4/b2/c3/e4/f3/h4. Black: king c8; queen e6; rooks d8/h8; bishops c5/g6; pawns a7/b7/c7/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: c6 — pawn c7→c6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc4 — queen f1→c4. Opponent replies Rxd5 (rook d8→d5, captures knight).
3. Best move: exd5 — pawn e4→d5, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxd5 (queen e6→d5, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Qxd5 — queen c4→d5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Qc4.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/ppp3p1/4q1b1/2bNN2p/P3P2P/2P2PB1/1P5K/R4Q2 b - - 0 24

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