Chess Puzzle #Y8MBJ — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen d4; rooks d1/h1; bishop e3; knight e6; pawns a3/c2/c3/e4/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen a5; rooks c8/h8; bishop b7; knight d7; pawns a6/b5/d6/e7/g4/g6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen a5→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc3 — queen d4→c3, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxc3 (rook c8→c3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Bd4 — bishop e3→d4. Opponent replies Rc8 (rook c3→c8).
4. Best move: Bxh8 — bishop d4→h8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, clearance, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r1k2r/1b1np3/p2pN1p1/qp6/3QP1p1/P1P1B3/2P3PP/1K1R3R b k - 2 18

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