Chess Puzzle #drar9 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen e2; rooks c1/f1; bishops a2/f2; knight d3; pawns a3/b2/c3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks d8/f8; bishops b7/g7; knight d5; pawns a6/b5/e6/f6/g5/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc3 — knight d5→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen e2→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qxc6 — queen e6→c6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/1b4bp/p1q1pp2/1p1n2p1/8/P1PN4/BP2QBPP/2R2R1K b - - 3 22

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