Chess Puzzle #5nlUc — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen b4; rooks a1/h1; bishop c1; knights c3/f3; pawns a2/b2/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d3; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knights b8/c5; pawns a7/b7/d6/e7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf3 — queen d3→f3, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb5+ — queen b4→b5, gives check. Opponent replies Nc6 (knight b8→c6).
3. Best move: gxf3 — pawn g2→f3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, intermezzo, opening, short. The key move is Qb5+.

Position data

FEN: rn2kb1r/pp2pppp/3p4/2nP4/1Q6/2Nq1N2/PP3PPP/R1B1K2R b KQkq - 5 13

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