Chess Puzzle #ZaIq8 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishops a4/d2; knight h4; pawns a2/b2/e5/f2/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/f8; bishops c5/d3; knight e7; pawns a6/b7/d4/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qb6 — queen a5→b6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: b4 — pawn b2→b4. Opponent replies Bxb4 (bishop c5→b4, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qb3 — queen d1→b3.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move is b4.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1p2nppp/p7/q1bpP3/B2p2PN/3b3P/PP1B1P2/R2QR1K1 b - - 1 17

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