Chess Puzzle #Ez2GZ — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen e2; rooks c1/h1; bishop e3; knight d2; pawns a3/b3/f2/f3/h2. Black: king e8; queen e5; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knight g8; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxa3 — bishop f8→a3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb5+ — queen e2→b5, gives check. Opponent replies Kf8 (king e8→f8).
3. Best move: Nc4 — knight d2→c4. Opponent replies Qb8 (queen e5→b8).
4. Best move: Nxa3 — knight c4→a3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Qb5+.

Position data

FEN: r3kbnr/pp3ppp/4p3/3pq3/8/PP2BP2/3NQP1P/2R1K2R b Kkq - 1 15

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