Chess Puzzle #OMyB0 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d1; queen c7; rooks c2/h1; bishop e3; knight f6; pawns a2/d4/e5/f2/h2. Black: king e7; queen a3; rooks a8/h8; bishops a6/f8; knight c6; pawns a7/d7/e6/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd3+ — queen a3→d3, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ke1 — king d1→e1. Opponent replies Bc8 (bishop a6→c8).
3. Best move: Rxc6 — rook c2→c6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Ke1.

Position data

FEN: r4b1r/p1Qpkp2/b1n1pN1p/4P1p1/3P4/q3B3/P1R2P1P/3K3R b - - 3 23

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