Chess Puzzle #72ZQj — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen b8; rooks a2/g1; bishop b5; pawns a6/b3/c4/e4. Black: king g8; queen e7; rook a7; bishops c3/c8; knight e3; pawns c5/d3/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe6 — queen e7→e6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxa7 — queen b8→a7, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxe4 (queen e6→e4, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Rd2 — rook a2→d2.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxa7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1Qb3k1/r3q1p1/P6p/1Bp5/2P1P3/1Pbpn3/R7/1K4R1 b - - 9 42

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