Chess Puzzle #Zddaa — Advanced, White to move, opening

Position

White: king e1; queen e2; rooks a1/h1; bishops c4/e3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks a8/f8; bishops c5/g4; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc4 — queen d4→c4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc4 — queen e2→c4, captures queen. Opponent replies dxc4 (pawn d5→c4, captures queen).
3. Best move: Bxc5 — bishop e3→c5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

capturing the defender, equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp3ppp/2p2n2/2bpP3/2Bq1Pb1/2N1B3/PPP1Q1PP/R3K2R b KQ - 2 13

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