Chess Puzzle #Waf2V — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rook d8; bishops b3/f4; knight b5; pawns c4/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b2; rooks a8/e6; bishop b7; knights a2/a6; pawns a7/b6/c5/e4/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd8 — rook a8→d8, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen h4→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
3. Best move: Nd6 — knight b5→d6.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2R2k1/pb3p1p/np2r1p1/1Np5/2P1pB1Q/1B2P2P/nq3PP1/6K1 b - - 3 23

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