Chess Puzzle #23kI8 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; knights b1/g5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c7/e4/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: f5 — pawn f7→f5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb3+ — queen d1→b3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Nf7+ — knight g5→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxf7 — queen b3→f7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Qb3+.

Position data

FEN: rnb2rk1/ppp2ppp/3q4/6N1/3Pp3/2P5/PP4PP/RN1Q1RK1 b - - 1 11

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