Chess Puzzle #jXuB0 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen d2; rooks e1/h1; bishop g2; knight d4; pawns a2/b2/f2/h2. Black: king f8; queen b5; rooks c8/d8; bishop f5; knight b4; pawns a7/b7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nc2+ — knight b4→c2, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc2 — queen d2→c2, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxc2 (rook c8→c2, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxb5 — knight d4→b5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2rr1k2/pp3ppp/8/1q1p1b2/1n1N4/8/PP1Q1PBP/K3R2R b - - 7 26

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