Chess Puzzle #ahtg8 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen f4; rooks c1/h1; knight g1; pawns a3/b3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen d4; rooks d8/e8; bishop c4; pawns a7/b7/c7/e4/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: e3 — pawn e4→e3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd4 — queen f4→d4, captures queen. Opponent replies exf2+ (pawn e3→f2, captures pawn, gives check).
3. Best move: Kxf2 — king e1→f2, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2krr3/ppp4p/6p1/5p2/2bqpQ2/PP6/5PPP/2R1K1NR b K - 0 19

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