Chess Puzzle #NZQ5r — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rooks a1/d5; bishops b5/g3; pawns a2/b2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; bishops c5/c8; knight g8; pawns a7/b7/e5/f6/g5/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Be6 — bishop c8→e6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc5+ — queen c4→c5, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc5 (queen b6→c5, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxc5 — rook d5→c5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b3nr/pp2k2p/1q3p2/1BbRp1p1/2Q1P3/6B1/PP3PPP/R5K1 b - - 4 17

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