Chess Puzzle #zIc2G — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks a1/f1; bishops f2/g4; knight d2; pawns a2/b4/e4/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen c3; rooks d8/h8; bishop f4; knight g8; pawns a6/b7/c7/f6/g5/h5. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: hxg4 — pawn h5→g4, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ba7+ — bishop f2→a7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxa7 (king b8→a7, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qxc3 — queen f3→c3, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxh2+ (bishop f4→h2, captures pawn, gives check).
4. Best move: Kf2 — king g1→f2.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Ba7+.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r2nr/1pp5/p4p2/6pp/1P2PbB1/2q2Q2/P2N1BPP/R4RK1 b - - 2 17

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