Chess Puzzle #DXSSJ — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a3; queen d6; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/e4/f6. Black: king a7; queen c4; knight c1; pawns a6/b7/c6/e5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe5 — queen d6→e5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: c5 — pawn c6→c5. Opponent replies b3 (pawn b2→b3).
3. Best move: Qb4+ — queen c4→b4, gives check. Opponent replies Kb2 (king a3→b2).
4. Best move: Nd3+ — knight c1→d3, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, exposed king, long, quiet move. The key move is c5.

Position data

FEN: 8/kp6/p1pQ1P2/4p3/2q1P3/K1N5/PP6/2n5 w - - 0 40

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