Chess Puzzle #kniB9 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d3; rook f1; bishops b1/b2; pawns b4/d4/e5/g4/h3. Black: king g7; queen b6; rook c8; bishop h4; knight e7; pawns b7/d5/e6/g6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb4 — queen b6→b4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ba3 — bishop b2→a3. Opponent replies Qc3 (queen b4→c3).
3. Best move: Bxe7 — bishop a3→e7, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxd3 (queen c3→d3, captures queen).
4. Best move: Bf6+ — bishop e7→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
5. Best move: Bxd3 — bishop b1→d3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, collinear, intermezzo, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move is Ba3.

Position data

FEN: 2r5/1p2n1k1/1q2p1pp/3pP3/1P1P2Pb/3Q3P/1B6/1B3R1K b - - 0 27

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