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

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rook f1; knight e5; pawns a3/b2/c5/f6/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b5; rooks b8/g8; pawns a6/c7/d5/e6/f7/g4/h5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb2 — queen b5→b2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa4+ — queen d4→a4, gives check. Opponent replies Qb5 (queen b2→b5).
3. Best move: Rb1 — rook f1→b1. Opponent replies Rg5 (rook g8→g5).
4. Best move: Rxb5 — rook b1→b5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, pin. The key move is Qa4+.

Position data

FEN: 1r2k1r1/2p2p2/p3pP2/1qPpN2p/3Q2p1/P7/1P4PP/5RK1 b - - 4 29

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