Chess Puzzle #9XTZ7 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rooks d1/f1; bishop c2; knights e2/f3; pawns a3/b2/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f6; rooks a8/d8; bishop c8; knights c6/h6; pawns a6/b5/e5/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe4 — queen a4→e4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Bf5 — bishop c8→f5. Opponent replies Qh4 (queen e4→h4).
3. Best move: Qxh4 — queen f6→h4, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxh4 (knight f3→h4, captures queen).
4. Best move: Bxc2 — bishop f5→c2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Bf5.

Position data

FEN: r1br3k/7p/p1n2qpn/1p2p3/Q7/P3PN2/1PB1NPPP/3R1RK1 w - - 0 23

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