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

Position

White: king a2; queen d6; bishop d4; pawns a3/b2/b3/e5/f4. Black: king b8; queen b7; rook c8; pawns b5/e6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc7 — queen b7→c7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bb6 — bishop d4→b6. Opponent replies Qxd6 (queen c7→d6, captures queen).
3. Best move: exd6 — pawn e5→d6, captures queen. Opponent replies Kb7 (king b8→b7).
4. Best move: d7 — pawn d6→d7.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, long. The key move is Bb6.

Position data

FEN: 1kr5/1q3p2/3Qp1p1/1p2P3/3B1P2/PP6/KP6/8 b - - 4 41

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