Chess Puzzle #hs3Y3 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishop f4; knights d2/d4; pawns a5/b2/e5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/h8; bishops a6/b4; knight d7; pawns a7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight d7→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa4+ — queen d1→a4, gives check. Opponent replies Qd7 (queen c7→d7).
3. Best move: Bxe5 — bishop f4→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxa4 (queen d7→a4, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxa4 — rook a1→a4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Qa4+.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/p1qn1ppp/b3p3/P2pP3/1b1N1B2/7P/1P1N1PP1/R2QK2R b KQkq - 2 15

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