Chess Puzzle #AATcx — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen d4; rooks d1/h1; bishop f4; knight d2; pawns a2/b3/c3/e3/f2/g5/h4. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks b4/f8; bishop d6; knight e5; pawns a7/d5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd5 — queen d4→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxc3+ — queen c7→c3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
3. Best move: Nd3 — knight e5→d3. Opponent replies Qxd3 (queen d5→d3, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxd3+ — queen c3→d3, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, queenside attack. The key move Qxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/p1q2ppp/3b4/3pn1P1/1r1Q1B1P/1PP1P3/P2N1P2/2KR3R w - - 1 25

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