Chess Puzzle #4KwkQ — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen d3; rooks d1/h1; bishops f4/g6; knight c3; pawns a4/b2/c2/f2/g2/h5. Black: king f8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops b4/c8; knights c6/f6; pawns a6/b7/d4/e6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: dxc3 — pawn d4→c3, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen d3→d8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Nxd8 (knight c6→d8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
4. Best move: Rxh8 — rook d8→h8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, skewer. The key move Qxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1k1r/1p4p1/p1n1pnBp/7P/Pb1p1B2/2NQ4/1PP2PP1/2KR3R b - - 3 16

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