Chess Puzzle #SdoXb — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen a5; rooks b4/f1; bishop d6; knight h3; pawns a3/d5/f3/g2/h2. Black: king d8; queen c4; rooks a8/h8; bishop d4; knight b6; pawns a6/b7/d3/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd5 — queen c4→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd5 — queen a5→d5, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxd5 (knight b6→d5, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxd4 — rook b4→d4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, capturing the defender, middlegame, short. The key move Qxd5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2k3r/1p3p2/pn1B3p/Q2P2p1/1Rqb4/P2p1P1N/6PP/5R1K b - - 1 24

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