Chess Puzzle #22QCa — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen c2; rooks b1/c1; knight f6; pawns a4/d4/e5/h4. Black: king c7; queen a3; rook f3; bishops f5/f8; pawns a6/c4/d5/f7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc4+ — queen c2→c4, captures pawn, gives check. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: dxc4 — pawn d5→c4, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxc4+ (rook c1→c4, captures pawn, gives check).
3. Best move: Bc5 — bishop f8→c5. Opponent replies Rxc5+ (rook c4→c5, captures bishop, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxc5 — queen a3→c5, captures rook. Opponent replies dxc5 (pawn d4→c5, captures queen).
5. Best move: Bxb1 — bishop f5→b1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, very long. The key move dxc4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5b2/2k2p2/p4N1p/3pPb2/P1pP3P/q4r2/2Q5/1RR1K3 w - - 4 39

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