Chess Puzzle #Q6HTh — Master, White to move, opening

Position

White: king e1; queen e2; rooks a1/h1; bishops e6/g3; knight f3; pawns a3/b2/c2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/d6; knights a6/g8; pawns a5/b5/c6/f6/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe7 — queen d8→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bxc8 — bishop e6→c8, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxe2+ (queen e7→e2, captures queen, gives check).
3. Best move: Kxe2 — king e1→e2, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook a8→c8, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Bxd6 — bishop g3→d6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame. The key move Bxc8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1bqk1nr/8/n1pbBp1p/pp4p1/3P4/P4NB1/1PP1QPPP/R3K2R b KQkq - 0 15

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