Chess Puzzle #zwXd7 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c5; rooks c1/e1; knight e5; pawns a2/d4/g3/h4. Black: king e8; queen f5; rooks c8/h8; bishop d3; pawns a5/c6/d5/e6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rf8 — rook h8→f8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd6 — queen c5→d6. Opponent replies Rd8 (rook c8→d8).
3. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen d6→c6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r1k2r/6pp/2p1p3/p1QpNq2/3P3P/3b2P1/P7/2R1R1K1 b k - 3 26

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