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

Position

White: king g2; bishop d8; knight b5; pawns a7/c4/d5/e4. Black: king f7; queen a1; pawns c5/c7/d6/e5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ke8 — king f7→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: a8=Q — pawn a7→a8, promotes to queen. Opponent replies Qxa8 (queen a1→a8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxc7+ — knight b5→c7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd8 (king e8→d8, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Nxa8 — knight c7→a8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, attraction, crushing, endgame, exposed king, fork, long, master, promotion. The key move Nxc7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3B4/P1p2k1p/3p2p1/1NpPp3/2P1P3/8/6K1/q7 b - - 4 37

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