Chess Puzzle #03UYH — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen b8; knight b5; pawns a5/e3/f4/g2. Black: king g7; queen c4; pawns a6/d5/f6/f7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb5 — queen c4→b5, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxb5 — queen b8→b5, captures queen. Opponent replies axb5 (pawn a6→b5, captures queen).
3. Best move: a6 — pawn a5→a6.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, queen endgame, short. The key move Qxb5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1Q6/5pk1/p4p2/PN1p4/2q2P2/4P3/6PK/8 b - - 0 38

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