Chess Puzzle #0SpSJ — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rook c1; bishop e3; pawns a4/d4/e5/f2/g2. Black: king d7; queen a5; rook h8; knight f5; pawns a7/b4/d5/e6/f7/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qb6 — queen a5→b6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: a5 — pawn a4→a5. Opponent replies b3 (pawn b4→b3).
3. Best move: Qxf5 — queen c2→f5, captures knight. Opponent replies exf5 (pawn e6→f5, captures queen).
4. Best move: axb6 — pawn a5→b6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, long. The key move is a5.

Position data

FEN: 7r/p2k1pp1/4p3/q2pPn1p/Pp1P4/4B3/2Q2PP1/2R3K1 b - - 1 26

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