Chess Puzzle #4B805 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen d4; rooks d2/h6; bishops c4/g5; knight b1; pawns b2/f3. Black: king g8; queen a2; rooks c8/f8; bishops a3/b7; knight f6; pawns b3/d5/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf6 — queen d4→f6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxc4+ — rook c8→c4, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king c1→d1).
3. Best move: Qxb1+ — queen a2→b1, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king d1→e2).
4. Best move: Re8+ — rook f8→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Be3 (bishop g5→e3).
5. Best move: Rxe3+ — rook e8→e3, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, hanging piece, middlegame, queenside attack, very long. The key move Rxc4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/1b3p2/5n1R/3p2B1/2BQ4/bp3P2/qP1R4/1NK5 w - - 0 27

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