Chess Puzzle #Q7R8a — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight g5; pawns a3/b2/c5/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king d7; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/e7; knights c6/g4; pawns a7/b7/c7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nce5 — knight c6→e5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb5+ — queen d3→b5, gives check. Opponent replies c6 (pawn c7→c6).
3. Best move: dxc6+ — pawn d5→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king d7→e8).
4. Best move: cxb7+ — pawn c6→b7, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, discovered attack, discovered check, equality, long, middlegame. The key move dxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1r2/pppkb2p/2n3p1/2PP2N1/6n1/P2Q4/1P3PPP/R1B2RK1 b - - 0 18

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