Chess Puzzle #iE7Fk — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c3; rooks a1/f1; bishop b2; knight g4; pawns a2/b4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h5; rooks d8/e2; bishop d6; knight f5; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: f6 — pawn f7→f6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc4+ — queen c3→c4, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Qxe2 — queen c4→e2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qc4+.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/ppp2ppp/3b4/5n1q/1P4N1/2Q2P2/PB2r1PP/R4RK1 b - - 8 23

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