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

Position

White: king e1; queen h1; rook a1; bishop c4; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks a8/f6; knight b8; pawns a7/b6/c5/e6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nc6 — knight b8→c6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc6 — queen h1→c6, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxc6 (queen d6→c6, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxc6 — knight e5→c6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rn4k1/p6p/1p1qprp1/2p1N3/2BP4/2P5/PP6/R3K2Q b Q - 0 21

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