Chess Puzzle #8Qi7O — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen c2; rooks a1/h1; bishops c4/f4; knight c3; pawns b2/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop b4; knights e4/f6; pawns a7/b5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: bxc4 — pawn b5→c4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa4+ — queen c2→a4, gives check. Opponent replies Qd7 (queen d8→d7).
3. Best move: Qxb4 — queen a4→b4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Qa4+.

Position data

FEN: r2qk2r/p4pp1/4pn1p/1p6/1bBPnB2/2N1P3/1PQ2PPP/R3K2R b KQkq - 0 14

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