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

Position

White: king g1; queen g6; rooks a1/e1; knights c3/f3; pawns a3/b2/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/g7; knight b4; pawns a7/b7/c4/d5/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bf5 — bishop c8→f5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: axb4 — pawn a3→b4, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxa1 (queen a5→a1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxg7+ — queen g6→g7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg7 (king g8→g7, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxa1 — rook e1→a1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, exposed king, long, middlegame. The key move Qxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/pp4b1/6Qp/q2p4/1npP4/P1N1PN2/1P3PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 0 18

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