Chess Puzzle #s1pxk — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; rooks d1/f1; knight d6; pawns a2/b2/e4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks d7/f8; knight f4; pawns g6/h7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: b3 — pawn b2→b3. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qc2 — queen c7→c2. Opponent replies Qg5 (queen e5→g5).
3. Best move: h6 — pawn h7→h6.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Qc2.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/2qr3p/3N2p1/4Q3/4Pn2/5P2/PP4PP/3R1RK1 w - - 1 24

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