Chess Puzzle #AloPj — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks a1/g3; bishop c4; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen h5; rooks a8/c8; bishop c5; knight f4; pawns a6/e4/f5/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rcb8 — rook c8→b8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc3+ — queen b3→c3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king h8→h7).
3. Best move: Qe5 — queen c3→e5. Opponent replies Qh4 (queen h5→h4).
4. Best move: Qxc5 — queen e5→c5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Qc3+.

Position data

FEN: r1r4k/8/p5pp/2b2p1q/2B1pn2/1Q4R1/PP3PPP/R5K1 b - - 1 27

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