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

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; bishops c3/c4; pawns a2/c5/e4/f2/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rook f8; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/e7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne5 — knight c6→e5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf4 — queen d2→f4. Opponent replies Qxc5 (queen c7→c5, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qxe5 — queen f4→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxe5 (queen c5→e5, captures queen).
4. Best move: Bxe5 — bishop c3→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

endgame, equality, long. The key move is Qf4.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1pq1pp1p/p1n3p1/2P5/2B1P3/2B3PP/P2Q1P2/6K1 b - - 0 24

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