Chess Puzzle #C46Wi — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen b3; rooks d1/h1; bishops e2/g5; knight b5; pawns c2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a2/f8; bishop e7; knights c6/e4; pawns b7/c7/d5/e5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qa8 — queen d8→a8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd5+ — queen b3→d5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Bxe7 — bishop g5→e7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nxe7 (knight c6→e7, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Qxe4 — queen d5→e4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxd5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3q1rk1/1pp1b1pp/2n5/1N1pp1B1/3Pn3/1Q6/r1P1BPPP/2KR3R b - - 2 17

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