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

Position

White: king h1; queen a4; rooks a1/e1; bishop c1; knights c3/e5; pawns a2/b2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g6; rooks c8/f8; bishop f2; knights c6/e7; pawns a7/b7/c7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxe1 — bishop f2→e1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc4+ — queen a4→c4, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
3. Best move: Nxg6 — knight e5→g6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Qc4+.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/ppp1n1p1/2n3qp/4N3/Q7/2N5/PP3bPP/R1B1R2K b - - 1 20

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