Chess Puzzle #50E5o — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rook a1; bishops e2/e3; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/d4/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/g7; pawns a7/b7/e6/f5/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxd4 — bishop g7→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa4+ — queen c2→a4, gives check. Opponent replies Bd7 (bishop c8→d7).
3. Best move: Qxd4 — queen a4→d4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxd4 (queen b6→d4, captures queen).
4. Best move: Bxd4 — bishop e3→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame. The key move is Qa4+.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k2r/pp3pbp/1q2p3/5p2/3P4/4B3/PPQ1B1PP/RN4K1 b kq - 1 16

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