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

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rooks c1/e1; bishop b5; knight b3; pawns a2/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks c3/c8; bishop b7; knight b8; pawns a5/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa5 — queen a4→a5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxa5 — queen c7→a5, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxa5 (knight b3→a5, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxc1 — rook c3→c1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move Qxa5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1nr3k1/1bq2ppp/4p3/pB1pP3/Q7/1Nr5/P4PPP/2R1R1K1 w - - 4 21

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