Chess Puzzle #9FUJg — Advanced, White to move, opening

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks c1/f1; bishops d3/f4; knights f3/f6; pawns a3/b2/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks d8/f8; bishops d7/e7; knights b6/c6; pawns a6/b7/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxf6 — bishop e7→f6, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe4 — queen e2→e4. Opponent replies g6 (pawn g7→g6).
3. Best move: exf6 — pawn e5→f6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxf4 (queen c7→f4, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Qxf4 — queen e4→f4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move is Qe4.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/1pqbbpp1/pnn1pN1p/4P3/5B2/P2B1N2/1P2QPPP/2R2RK1 b - - 5 17

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