Chess Puzzle #5Gpba — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen c2; rooks f1/f6; bishop c1; knight d6; pawns a3/b2/c3/d4/e5. Black: king c8; queen a2; rooks g2/g8; knights c7/d8; pawns a7/b7/c4/d5/e6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kd7 — king c8→d7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa4+ — queen c2→a4, gives check. Opponent replies b5 (pawn b7→b5).
3. Best move: Qxa7 — queen a4→a7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Re2+ (rook g2→e2, gives check).
4. Best move: Kxe2 — king e1→e2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2kn2r1/ppn5/3NpR2/3pP3/2pP4/P1P5/qPQ3r1/2B1KR2 b - - 2 39

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