Chess Puzzle #Lutsk — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen f3; rooks e1/h1; bishop b5; knights d4/d5; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen a5; rooks c8/h8; bishops d6/f7; knights c5/h6; pawns a6/f6/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: axb5 — pawn a6→b5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf6 — queen f3→f6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxa2 (queen a5→a2, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qxd6+ — queen f6→d6, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Qxd6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r2k1r/5b2/p2b1p1n/qBnN3p/3N4/5Q2/PPP2PPP/2K1R2R b - - 0 22

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