Chess Puzzle #13EkH — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen f3; rook a1; bishop e3; knight g5; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g4/h3. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knight g8; pawns a7/c6/d6/e5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf6 — knight g8→f6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen f3→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e8→e7).
3. Best move: Qb7+ — queen c6→b7, gives check. Opponent replies Qd7 (queen d8→d7).
4. Best move: Qxa8 — queen b7→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

deflection, equality, long, middlegame. The key move Qxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2qkbnr/p4ppp/2pp4/4p1N1/6P1/4BQ1P/PPP2P2/R3K3 b Qkq - 1 14

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