Chess Puzzle #Lm0pH — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b5; rooks a1/f1; knights b1/e5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen e7; rooks d8/h8; bishops f8/g4; knight f6; pawns a7/c7/f4/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc5 — queen e7→c5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa6+ — queen b5→a6, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
3. Best move: Nc6+ — knight e5→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc6 (queen c5→c6, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxc6 — queen a6→c6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Qa6+.

Position data

FEN: 2kr1b1r/p1p1qppp/5n2/1Q2N3/4Ppb1/8/PPP2PPP/RN3RK1 b - - 5 12

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