Chess Puzzle #g1MDQ — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks d1/e1; bishop b3; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c5; queen d6; rooks a8/h8; bishop g4; knight d5; pawns a7/b7/c6/d4/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxd1 — bishop g4→d1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd4+ — queen d3→d4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb5 (king c5→b5).
3. Best move: Bc4+ — bishop b3→c4, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Qxd4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r6r/pp4p1/2pq4/2kn3p/3p2b1/1BPQ4/PP3PPP/3RR1K1 b - - 2 18

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