Chess Puzzle #EJaSg — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen b4; rooks f1/f3; knight e4; pawns a3/b2/c4/d3/h3. Black: king d7; queen h6; rooks a5/h5; knights c7/e8; pawns a4/e6/f6/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: f5 — pawn f6→f5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxa5 — queen b4→a5, captures rook. Opponent replies fxe4 (pawn f5→e4, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxa4+ — queen a5→a4, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxa4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4n3/2nk2p1/4pp1q/r6r/pQP1N3/P2P1R1P/1P5K/5R2 b - - 2 29

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