Chess Puzzle #5KIcd — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen f5; rook b1; bishop c1; knight d4; pawns c2/c3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rook e8; knight e4; pawns b6/d5/f4/g7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf4 — queen f5→f4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rf8 — rook e8→f8. Opponent replies Nf5 (knight d4→f5).
3. Best move: Qxf4+ — queen d6→f4, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf4 (bishop c1→f4, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxf5 — rook f8→f5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, intermezzo, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Qxf4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/6p1/1p1q3p/3p1Q2/3Nnp2/2P5/2P3PP/1RB2K2 w - - 3 32

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