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

Position

White: king e1; queen a4; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/f1; pawns a2/c3/d4/e3/f4/h2. Black: king e8; queen f6; rooks a8/h8; bishop d5; knight g3; pawns a5/b7/c7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bc6 — bishop d5→c6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Bb5 — bishop f1→b5. Opponent replies O-O (king e8→g8).
3. Best move: Bxc6 — bishop b5→c6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nxh1 (knight g3→h1, captures rook).
4. Best move: Bxh1 — bishop c6→h1, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame, pin. The key move is Bb5.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/1pp2ppp/4pq2/p2b4/Q2P1P2/2P1P1n1/P6P/R1B1KB1R b KQkq - 1 15

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