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

Position

White: king h1; queen c4; rooks e1/f1; bishop d3; pawns a2/c2/c3/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen g5; rooks d8/f8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne5 — knight c6→e5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb5 — queen c4→b5. Opponent replies Nxf3 (knight e5→f3, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Rxf3 — rook f1→f3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxb5 (queen g5→b5, captures queen).
4. Best move: Bxb5 — bishop d3→b5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/ppp2ppp/2n5/6q1/2Q5/2PB1P2/P1P4P/4RR1K b - - 5 17

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