Chess Puzzle #90lzK — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d4; queen d6; rook h1; bishop c4; knight e8; pawns b4/d7/g3/h3. Black: king h8; queen f2; bishops g4/g5; knight a6; pawns a7/b7/f5/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kd5 — king d4→d5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qf3+ — queen f2→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Ke6 (king d5→e6).
3. Best move: Qe4+ — queen f3→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Qe5 (queen d6→e5).
4. Best move: Qxc4+ — queen e4→c4, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxc4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4N2k/pp1P2p1/n2Q3p/5pb1/1PBK2b1/6PP/5q2/7R w - - 5 35

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