Chess Puzzle #KRz65 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen c6; rooks d3/e1; knights e3/f3; pawns b3/c2/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/h8; bishop f6; knight c3; pawns a3/b4/e6/f5/f7/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kf8 — king e8→f8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc7 — queen c6→c7, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxd5+ (knight c3→d5, captures pawn, gives check).
3. Best move: Qe5 — queen c7→e5. Opponent replies Bxe5+ (bishop f6→e5, captures queen, gives check).
4. Best move: Nxe5 — knight f3→e5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Qxc7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/2q2p2/2Q1pbp1/3P1p2/1p6/pPnRNN1P/2P2PP1/K3R3 b kq - 0 27

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