Chess Puzzle #EEKlt — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/d1; bishops g2/g5; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/e2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c4; rooks c8/f8; bishops d7/e7; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ba4 — bishop d7→a4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxa4 — queen c2→a4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxa4 (queen c4→a4, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxa4 — knight c3→a4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxa4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/pp1bbppp/4pn2/6B1/2q5/P1N3P1/1PQ1PPBP/R2R2K1 b - - 2 16

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