Chess Puzzle #U051U — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen f3; rook d1; bishops b2/f1; knight e2; pawns a2/a4/d6/g2. Black: king e8; queen h7; bishops c2/f2; knights b8/c5; pawns b7/c6/f7/g3. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxd1 — bishop c2→d1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf6 — queen f3→f6. Opponent replies Qe4 (queen h7→e4).
3. Best move: Be5 — bishop b2→e5. Opponent replies Qxe5+ (queen e4→e5, captures bishop, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxe5+ — queen f6→e5, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Qxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1n2k3/1p3p1q/2pP4/2n5/P7/5Qp1/PBb1NbP1/K2R1B2 b - - 1 22

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