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

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/e1; knights c3/f3; pawns a2/b2/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks c8/e8; bishop e7; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/d6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd5 — knight f6→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf5 — queen c2→f5. Opponent replies g6 (pawn g7→g6).
3. Best move: Qxd5 — queen f5→d5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxd5 (queen a5→d5, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nxd5 — knight c3→d5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Qf5.

Position data

FEN: 2r1r1k1/pp2bppp/3p1n2/q2P4/8/2N2N1P/PPQ2PP1/R3R1K1 b - - 0 18

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