Chess Puzzle #G9nqA — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen e4; rook d1; bishop b3; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/d5/f2/g4/h4. Black: king g7; queen b6; rook c8; bishop f6; knight e7; pawns a5/b7/d6/e5/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qb4 — queen b6→b4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxb4 — queen e4→b4, captures queen. Opponent replies axb4 (pawn a5→b4, captures queen).
3. Best move: g5 — pawn g4→g5.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, short. The key move Qxb4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r5/1p2npk1/1q1p1bp1/p2Pp2p/4Q1PP/1B3N2/PP3PK1/3R4 b - - 0 23

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