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

Position

White: king h1; queen d3; rooks c1/f1; knight c5; pawns a2/b3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen e5; rooks a8/h8; knight e2; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc1 — knight e2→c1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb5+ — queen d3→b5, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e8→e7).
3. Best move: Qxb7+ — queen b5→b7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king e7→f6).
4. Best move: Nd7+ — knight c5→d7, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Qxb7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/pp3ppp/4p3/2Npq3/8/1P1Q4/P3nPPP/2R2R1K b kq - 4 19

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