Chess Puzzle #ST7oP — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/d3; bishop g3; knight f3; pawns a5/b3/c2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops c3/c8; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/c5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd3 — queen d8→d3, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: cxd3 — pawn c2→d3, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxa1 (bishop c3→a1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxa1 — queen d1→a1, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move cxd3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1rk1/1p3pp1/p1n1p2p/P1p5/4P3/1PbR1NB1/2P2PPP/R2Q2K1 b - - 0 18

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