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

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks b1/f1; bishops c1/d3; knight a3; pawns a2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen e6; rooks d8/h8; bishops b7/d6; knights c6/g8; pawns a7/c7/d5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Na5 — knight c6→a5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb5 — queen b3→b5. Opponent replies Bxa3 (bishop d6→a3, captures knight).
3. Best move: Bxa3 — bishop c1→a3, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qb6 (queen e6→b6).
4. Best move: Qa4 — queen b5→a4.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, opening. The key move is Qb5.

Position data

FEN: 2kr2nr/pbp2p1p/2nbq1p1/3p4/3P4/NQPB4/P4PPP/1RB2RK1 b - - 3 16

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