Chess Puzzle #3vLVN — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e2; queen d5; bishop g2; pawns a2/b2/c4/e6. Black: king h8; queen f4; rook f8; pawns a7/b6/c5/d6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe5+ — queen f4→e5, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe5 — queen d5→e5, captures queen. Opponent replies dxe5 (pawn d6→e5, captures queen).
3. Best move: Bc6 — bishop g2→c6. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
4. Best move: e7 — pawn e6→e7.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, clearance, endgame, equality, long, quiet move. The key move Qxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/p5pp/1p1pP3/2pQ4/2P2q2/8/PP2K1B1/8 b - - 0 31

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