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

Position

White: king f3; queen a8; rooks a1/h1; bishop f1; knight e5; pawns a2/d4/d5/f2/g4/h3. Black: king e8; queen b2; rook h8; bishop g6; knights b8/d7; pawns b5/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa1 — queen b2→a1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxb8+ — queen a8→b8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Nxb8 (knight d7→b8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Bxb5+ — bishop f1→b5, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The key move Qxb8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: Qn2k2r/3n1ppp/4p1b1/1p1PN3/3P2P1/5K1P/Pq3P2/R4B1R b k - 1 17

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