Chess Puzzle #VebV5 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/f1; bishop e2; knight f3; pawns a3/e3/e5/g4/h2. Black: king e8; queen c5; rooks c8/h8; bishop d7; knight c6; pawns a6/b5/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Na5 — knight c6→a5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxa5 — queen d2→a5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxe3+ (queen c5→e3, captures pawn, gives check).
3. Best move: Rf2 — rook f1→f2.

Tactical themes

defensive move, equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxa5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r1k2r/3b1ppp/p1n1p3/1pqpP3/6P1/P3PN2/3QB2P/R4RK1 b k - 1 19

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