Chess Puzzle #9hpud — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen f2; rooks e2/f1; knights a1/f3; pawns b2/c3/d3/e4/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen a2; rooks a8/f8; bishop g7; knight c6; pawns a6/b4/c5/d6/f4/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: a5 — pawn a6→a5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: b3 — pawn b2→b3. Opponent replies Qxe2 (queen a2→e2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxe2 — queen f2→e2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, quiet move, short. The key move is b3.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/5pb1/p1np3p/2p3p1/1p2PpP1/2PP1N1P/qP2RQK1/N4R2 b - - 1 23

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