Chess Puzzle #6YIOs — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen e2; rook a1; bishops b5/c1; knight f1; pawns a2/b2/c3/c6/d4/g2. Black: king f8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/d6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h2. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf6 — queen d8→f6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe8+ — queen e2→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe8 (king f8→e8, captures queen).
3. Best move: cxb7+ — pawn c6→b7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e8→e7).
4. Best move: bxa8=Q — pawn b7→a8, captures rook, promotes to queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, discovered attack, long, middlegame, promotion, sacrifice. The key move cxb7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1k1r/ppp2pp1/2Pb4/1B6/3P4/2P5/PP2Q1Pp/R1B2N1K b - - 1 15

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