Chess Puzzle #97aof — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks c1/f7; bishop c5; knight d2; pawns a2/b4/g4/h2. Black: king b8; queen a5; rooks d8/h8; bishops d7/g5; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa2 — queen a5→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe5+ — queen e2→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Ka8 (king b8→a8).
3. Best move: Ra1 — rook c1→a1.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move is Qe5+.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r3r/pp1b1Rp1/4p2p/q1Bp2b1/1P4P1/8/P2NQ2P/2R3K1 b - - 0 24

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