Chess Puzzle #g0gDD — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a5; rooks a1/e1; bishop d2; knight c3; pawns a2/b3/c6/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen d7; rooks a8/h8; bishops f5/f6; knight d3; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: bxc6 — pawn b7→c6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: dxc6 — pawn d5→c6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxc6 (queen d7→c6, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qxf5+ — queen a5→f5, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, middlegame, short. The key move Qxf5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1k4r/pppq2p1/2Pp1b2/Q2P1b1p/8/1PNn4/P2B1PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 0 21

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