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

Position

White: king d1; queen c6; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/e2; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/d5/f2/h2. Black: king e7; queen f5; rooks b8/h8; knights f3/f6; pawns d6/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: dxe6 — pawn d5→e6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rhc8 — rook h8→c8. Opponent replies Qxf3 (queen c6→f3, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qc2+ — queen f5→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king d1→e1).
4. Best move: Qxc1+ — queen c2→c1, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, exposed king, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxc1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r5r/4kppp/2Qppn2/3P1q2/8/5n2/PP2BP1P/RNBK3R w - - 0 17

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