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

Position

White: king e1; queen f3; rooks a1/h1; bishop c1; knights b4/h3; pawns b3/d2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen c8; rooks a8/h8; bishop b5; knight e4; pawns b6/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxa8 — rook a1→a8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxc1+ — queen c8→c1, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qd1 (queen f3→d1).
3. Best move: Qxd1+ — queen c1→d1, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd1 (king e1→d1, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxa8 — rook h8→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, long, middlegame. The key move Qxc1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1q4r/4kpp1/1p2p2p/1b1p4/1N1Pn3/1P3Q1N/3P1PPP/R1B1K2R w KQ - 1 19

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