Chess Puzzle #3Aivr — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen d3; rooks d1/e2; pawns a2/c2/d7/g3/h2. Black: king f7; queen c5; rook d8; knight b5; pawns a4/b4/f6/g7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe4 — queen d3→e4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qc3+ — queen c5→c3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king a1→b1).
3. Best move: Na3+ — knight b5→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Kc1 (king b1→c1).
4. Best move: Qa1+ — queen c3→a1, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move is Qc3+.

Position data

FEN: 3r4/3P1kp1/5p1p/1nq5/pp6/3Q2P1/P1P1R2P/K2R4 w - - 1 39

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