Chess Puzzle #Sfl2L — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b4; bishop g2; knight e1; pawns a4/b6/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen a1; rook a8; bishop f7; pawns e4/f5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa4 — queen a1→a4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: b7 — pawn b6→b7. Opponent replies Qxb4 (queen a4→b4, captures queen).
3. Best move: bxa8=Q+ — pawn b7→a8, captures rook, promotes to queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, endgame, promotion, short. The key move bxa8=Q+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/5b1p/1P4p1/5p2/PQ2p3/6P1/5PBP/q3N1K1 b - - 0 33

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