Chess Puzzle #jn9Xb — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishop c1; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/b7/e2/h2. Black: king e8; queen h5; rooks a8/h8; bishops f8/h3; knight g8; pawns a7/c7/e7/f7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf5+ — queen h5→f5, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nf3 — knight d2→f3. Opponent replies Rb8 (rook a8→b8).
3. Best move: Qa4+ — queen d1→a4, gives check. Opponent replies c6 (pawn c7→c6).
4. Best move: Qxa7 — queen a4→a7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxb7 (rook b8→b7, captures pawn).
5. Best move: Qxb7 — queen a7→b7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, opening, very long. The key move is Nf3.

Position data

FEN: r3kbnr/pPp1pp2/8/7q/8/7b/PP1NPK1P/R1BQR3 b kq - 0 16

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