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

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rook d3; bishop h4; knight f3; pawns a2/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen a5; rooks c8/h8; bishop b4; knights b2/c3; pawns a7/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Be7 — bishop b4→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen e6→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king e8→f7).
3. Best move: Qxc3 — queen c8→c3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r1k2r/p5pp/4Qp2/q7/1b1P3B/2nRPN2/Pn3PPP/6K1 b k - 0 24

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