Chess Puzzle #3K2Fu — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rook a1; bishop f4; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; bishop g7; knight f1; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f5/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne3 — knight f1→e3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa4+ — queen c2→a4, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
3. Best move: Nd7+ — knight e5→d7, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, short. The key move is Qa4+.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/pp3pbp/1q2p3/3pNp2/3P1B2/2P2P2/PPQ3PP/R4nK1 b kq - 1 15

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