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

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks a1/e1; bishops a3/g2; knight c3; pawns a4/d4/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e6; rooks b8/e8; bishop e4; knights c6/d5; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc3 — knight d5→c3, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc3 — queen b3→c3, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxg2 (bishop e4→g2, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Kxg2 — king g1→g2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r2r1k1/ppp2ppp/2n1q3/3n4/P2Pb3/BQN1P1P1/5PBP/R3R1K1 b - - 8 16

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