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

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/f5; knight h4; pawns a2/c2/c5/e3/e4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a8/f8; bishop a6; pawns a7/c6/d7/e5/f6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc5 — queen b6→c5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxa6 — queen d3→a6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxe3+ (queen c5→e3, captures pawn, gives check).
3. Best move: Rf2 — rook f5→f2.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxa6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/p2p2pp/bqp2p2/2P1pR2/4P2N/3QP3/P1P3PP/R5K1 b - - 0 17

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