Chess Puzzle #AKLbq — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen g4; rooks a1/h7; bishop d3; knight g5; pawns a2/c3/d4/e5/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen a3; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight d5; pawns a7/b7/c7/e6/g6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rb1 — rook a1→b1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxc3+ — queen a3→c3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king e1→e2).
3. Best move: Nf4+ — knight d5→f4, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf4 (queen g4→f4, captures knight).
4. Best move: Rxf4 — rook f8→f4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/ppp4R/4p1p1/3nP1N1/3P2Q1/q1PB4/P4PP1/R3K3 w Q - 1 19

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