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

Position

White: king g1; queen f1; rooks a3/b1; bishop b4; knights d2/f3; pawns d4/e5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen c2; rooks a8/h6; bishop d7; knight f4; pawns a6/d5/e6/f7/g7/h5. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc1 — rook b1→c1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxc1 — queen c2→c1, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxc1 (queen f1→c1, captures queen).
3. Best move: Ne2+ — knight f4→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh2 (king g1→h2).
4. Best move: Nxc1 — knight e2→c1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxc1 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3k3/3b1pp1/p3p2r/3pP2p/1B1P1n2/R4N1P/2qN1PP1/1R3QK1 w q - 7 26

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