Chess Puzzle #74qr4 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a2; queen d5; pawns a3/b2/e6/f6/h5. Black: king b7; queen c2; knight c8; pawns a6/b5/c4/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kc7 — king b7→c7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: e7 — pawn e6→e7. Opponent replies Nxe7 (knight c8→e7, captures pawn).
3. Best move: fxe7 — pawn f6→e7, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, endgame, master, short. The key move is e7.

Position data

FEN: 2n5/1k6/p3PP1p/1p1Q3P/2p5/P7/KPq5/8 b - - 1 36

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