Chess Puzzle #5VNXM — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop f2; knights c5/e2; pawns a3/b4/d4/e5/f4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks b8/f8; bishops a8/g7; knight e7; pawns a6/c4/e6/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc2 — queen d1→c2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qd5 — queen d8→d5. Opponent replies Qe4 (queen c2→e4).
3. Best move: Qxe4 — queen d5→e4, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxe4 (knight c5→e4, captures queen).
4. Best move: Bxe4 — bishop a8→e4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Qd5.

Position data

FEN: br1q1rk1/4npbp/p3p1p1/2N1P3/1PpP1P2/P6P/4NBP1/R2Q1RK1 w - - 1 21

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