Chess Puzzle #31BWQ — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rooks a1/e1; bishop c1; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c4/e2/e4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rook a8; bishops f2/h3; knight g4; pawns a7/b6/c5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bf4 — bishop c1→f4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxf4 — queen c7→f4, captures bishop. Opponent replies gxf4 (pawn g3→f4, captures queen).
3. Best move: Ne3 — knight g4→e3. Opponent replies Rg1 (rook e1→g1).
4. Best move: Nxc2 — knight e3→c2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxf4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/p1q2ppp/1p6/2p5/2P1P1n1/5NPb/PPQ1Pb1P/R1B1R2K w - - 2 21

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