Chess Puzzle #1zLjX — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c6; rook f1; bishop e3; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g6; rook b8; bishop c8; knights f6/h7; pawns a7/c5/e6/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc2 — queen g6→c2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc7 — queen c6→c7. Opponent replies Rxb2 (rook b8→b2, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qf7+ — queen c7→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
4. Best move: Ng6+ — knight e5→g6, gives check. Opponent replies Qxg6 (queen c2→g6, captures knight).
5. Best move: Qxg6 — queen f7→g6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, very long. The key move is Qc7.

Position data

FEN: 1rb3k1/p5pn/2Q1pnq1/2p1N3/8/4B3/PPP3PP/5RK1 b - - 4 27

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