Chess Puzzle #4eikg — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f3; queen a4; rooks a1/b1; bishops d3/d4; knight d6; pawns a2/c3/e5/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen b2; rooks a8/h8; bishops d7/h4; knight d5; pawns a7/b6/c6/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc3 — knight d5→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa6 — queen a4→a6. Opponent replies Qd2 (queen b2→d2).
3. Best move: Be3 — bishop d4→e3. Opponent replies Qxe3+ (queen d2→e3, captures bishop, gives check).
4. Best move: Kxe3 — king f3→e3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, trapped piece. The key move is Qa6.

Position data

FEN: r4k1r/p2b1p1p/1ppNp1p1/3nP3/Q2B3b/2PB1K2/Pq4PP/RR6 b - - 1 18

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