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

Position

White: king h2; queen f2; rook e3; bishop g3; pawns a3/b4/f5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a1; rook a8; bishop d5; pawns e6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxa3 — rook a8→a3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Be5 — bishop g3→e5. Opponent replies Ra2 (rook a3→a2).
3. Best move: Qg3 — queen f2→g3. Opponent replies Rxg2+ (rook a2→g2, captures pawn, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxg2 — queen g3→g2, captures rook. Opponent replies Bxg2 (bishop d5→g2, captures queen).
5. Best move: Bxa1 — bishop e5→a1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

clearance, crushing, endgame, very long. The key move is Be5.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/5pp1/4p2p/3b1P2/1P6/P3R1BP/5QPK/q7 b - - 0 38

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