Chess Puzzle #a9fYF — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishop g5; knight d4; pawns a2/b2/c2/f3/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops d7/f8; knight f6; pawns a7/c6/d6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: h6 — pawn h7→h6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qe2+ — queen d1→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Be6 (bishop d7→e6).
3. Best move: Nxc6 — knight d4→c6, captures pawn. Opponent replies hxg5 (pawn h6→g5, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Nxd8 — knight c6→d8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

deflection, equality, long, opening. The key move is Qe2+.

Position data

FEN: r2qkb1r/p2b1p1p/2pp1np1/6B1/3N4/5P1P/PPP3P1/R2QK2R b KQkq - 0 13

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