Chess Puzzle #1I293 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/b1; pawns c3/c5/d4/e3/f4/g2. Black: king b7; queen e7; rook a8; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b6/c7/d7/e6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qh7 — queen e7→h7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa6+ — queen d3→a6, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king b7→b8).
3. Best move: cxb6 — pawn c5→b6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxb1+ (queen h7→b1, captures rook, gives check).
4. Best move: Rxb1 — rook a1→b1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, long, middlegame. The key move is Qa6+.

Position data

FEN: r7/pkppq3/1pn1pn2/2P5/3P1P2/2PQP3/6P1/RR4K1 b - - 0 24

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