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

Position

White: king b2; queen d2; bishop b3; knight f6; pawns a4/d4/e5/h4. Black: king a7; queen c8; rook c3; knight b6; pawns a5/b7/d5/e6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc4 — rook c3→c4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxa5+ — queen d2→a5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king a7→b8).
3. Best move: Qxb6 — queen a5→b6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, endgame, master, short. The key move Qxa5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2q5/kp6/1n2pN2/p2pP3/P2P3P/1Br5/1K1Q4/8 b - - 3 40

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