Chess Puzzle #U4Gh8 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks c7/f1; bishop a7; pawns a2/c5/d5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a4; rooks a8/e5; bishop g5; pawns d6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxa7 — rook a8→a7, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa3 — queen d3→a3. Opponent replies h6 (pawn h7→h6).
3. Best move: Rxa7 — rook c7→a7, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxa3 (queen a4→a3, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxa3 — rook a7→a3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, intermezzo, long, middlegame. The key move is Qa3.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/B1R2ppp/3p4/2PPr1b1/q7/3Q4/P4PPP/5RK1 b - - 0 23

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