Chess Puzzle #0376X — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f5; rooks a1/d7; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks a8/f8; bishop g7; pawns a7/c6/c7/e5/f6/f7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc7 — rook d7→c7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qb6 — queen c5→b6. Opponent replies Rd7 (rook c7→d7).
3. Best move: Qxb2 — queen b6→b2, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rad1 (rook a1→d1).
4. Best move: Qxc3 — queen b2→c3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Qb6.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/p1pR1pb1/2p2p1p/2q1pQ2/4P3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R5K1 w - - 8 15

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