Chess Puzzle #taGeU — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops d2/f1; knight e2; pawns a2/c5/d4/f2/f3/h2. Black: king e8; queen b2; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa4+ — queen d1→a4, gives check. Opponent replies Nd7 (knight f6→d7).
3. Best move: Qxd4 — queen a4→d4, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxd4 (queen b2→d4, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nxd4 — knight e2→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, opening. The key move is Qa4+.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/ppp1pppp/2n2n2/2P5/3P4/5P2/Pq1BNP1P/R2QKB1R b KQkq - 0 13

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