Chess Puzzle #5OX3A — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen b7; rooks c1/h1; knight d2; pawns a3/b2/f2/f5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d4; rooks a8/c8; knight c7; pawns a7/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc7 — rook c1→c7, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qe5+ — queen d4→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king e1→d1).
3. Best move: Qxc7 — queen e5→c7, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxc7 (queen b7→c7, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxc7 — rook c8→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Qe5+.

Position data

FEN: r1r3k1/pQn2ppp/4p3/5P2/3q4/P7/1P1N1PPP/2R1K2R w K - 0 17

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