Chess Puzzle #S8NQX — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d6; rook d1; knights e2/e4; pawns b2/b3/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen a8; rook c8; bishops e3/h3; pawns b5/e5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc2 — rook c8→c2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd3 — queen d6→d3. Opponent replies Rxe2 (rook c2→e2, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxe2 — queen d3→e2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qd3.

Position data

FEN: q1r3k1/5pp1/3Q3p/1p2p3/4N3/1P2bP1b/1P2N2P/3R3K b - - 4 26

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