Chess Puzzle #5fni2 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b6; knight a6; pawns a3/d4/f4/g5/h6. Black: king d6; queen c3; knights f2/f5; pawns a4/d5/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc6 — queen c3→c6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb4+ — queen b6→b4, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king d6→d7).
3. Best move: Nb8+ — knight a6→b8, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king d7→c7).
4. Best move: Nxc6 — knight b8→c6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, long. The key move is Qb4+.

Position data

FEN: 8/5p1p/NQ1kp1pP/3p1nP1/p2P1P2/P1q5/5n2/6K1 b - - 5 45

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