Chess Puzzle #HwkO2 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen c2; rooks a1/h1; knights c3/e2; pawns a2/b2/d5/f2/h4. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks c8/h8; bishop e5; knight b6; pawns a7/b7/d6/e7/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd5 — knight b6→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa4+ — queen c2→a4, gives check. Opponent replies Qd7 (queen d8→d7).
3. Best move: Qxd7+ — queen a4→d7, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd7 (king e8→d7, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nxd5 — knight c3→d5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame. The key move Qxd7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rqk2r/pp2pp2/1n1p2p1/3Pb3/7P/2N5/PPQ1NP2/R3K2R b KQk - 1 19

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