Chess Puzzle #19PWz — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen f3; rooks d1/h1; bishop f2; knight d6; pawns a2/b2/f4/g2/h2. Black: king d7; queen c2; rooks c8/h8; bishop a6; knight f6; pawns d4/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxd6 — king d7→d6, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa3+ — queen f3→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king d6→c7).
3. Best move: Qxa6 — queen a3→a6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qa3+.

Position data

FEN: 2r4r/3k1ppp/b2Npn2/8/3p1P2/5Q2/PPq2BPP/3RK2R b K - 3 21

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