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

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/f1; bishops f3/f4; knight d4; pawns a2/c2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks a8/f8; bishop d7; knights a5/f6; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nc4 — knight a5→c4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc1 — queen d2→c1. Opponent replies Qxf4 (queen e5→f4, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qxf4 — queen c1→f4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, quiet move, short, trapped piece. The key move is Qc1.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1p1b1ppp/p3pn2/n2pq3/3N1B2/2P2B2/P1PQ1PPP/R4RK1 b - - 5 15

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