Chess Puzzle #wIYUI — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c3; rooks a1/f1; bishops b2/g2; knight d2; pawns a5/b5/f2/f3/g3/h2. Black: king c8; queen f6; rooks d8/h8; bishop a7; knights c6/g8; pawns a6/b7/c7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bd4 — bishop a7→d4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb3 — queen c3→b3. Opponent replies Bxb2 (bishop d4→b2, captures bishop).
3. Best move: bxc6 — pawn b5→c6, captures knight. Opponent replies bxc6 (pawn b7→c6, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Ne4 — knight d2→e4.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Qb3.

Position data

FEN: 2kr2nr/bpp2ppp/p1n1pq2/PP6/8/2Q2PP1/1B1N1PBP/R4RK1 b - - 0 18

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