Chess Puzzle #31Mad — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops c3/f1; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/d6/f3/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen h6; rooks a8/e8; bishop c8; knight d5; pawns a7/b7/c6/c7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: dxc7 — pawn d6→c7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qe3+ — queen h6→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king f2→g2).
3. Best move: Bh3+ — bishop c8→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh3 (king g2→h3, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Qh6+ — queen e3→h6, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king h3→g2).
5. Best move: Ne3+ — knight d5→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king g2→g1).
6. Best move: Nxd1 — knight e3→d1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, opening, sacrifice, very long. The key move is Qe3+.

Position data

FEN: r1b1r1k1/ppp2ppp/2pP3q/3n4/8/2B2PP1/PPP2K1P/RN1Q1B1R w - - 3 14

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