Chess Puzzle #Qbez7 — Expert, White to move, opening

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops e3/f1; knights c3/g1; pawns a4/b2/c4/d5/e5/g4/h4. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops f8/g6; knights b6/c6; pawns a5/b7/c7/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: exd5 — pawn e6→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: cxd5 — pawn c4→d5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nxd5 (knight b6→d5, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qxd5 — queen d1→d5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxd5 (queen d8→d5, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nxd5 — knight c3→d5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame. The key move cxd5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2qkb1r/1pp2pp1/1nn1p1bp/p2PP3/P1P3PP/2N1B3/1P6/R2QKBNR b KQkq - 0 12

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