Chess Puzzle #ETuKT — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen f4; rooks d1/h1; bishop b2; knights b6/c7; pawns a2/b3/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen c8; rooks b8/f8; bishops f5/g7; knight f6; pawns a6/b7/e7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc7+ — queen c8→c7, captures knight, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc7 — queen f4→c7, captures queen. Opponent replies Bh6+ (bishop g7→h6, gives check).
3. Best move: Rd2 — rook d1→d2. Opponent replies Rbc8 (rook b8→c8).
4. Best move: Nxc8 — knight b6→c8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook f8→c8, captures knight).
5. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen c7→c8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1rq2rk1/1pN1ppbp/pN3np1/5b2/5Q1P/1P6/PB4P1/2KR3R b - - 3 21

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