Chess Puzzle #IYS9V — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen c3; rooks d1/h1; bishop e3; pawns b3/c2/d3/e4/f2/g5/h3. Black: king e8; queen a6; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; pawns b5/c5/c6/e6/g6/g7/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxc5 — bishop e3→c5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qa1+ — queen a6→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king c1→d2).
3. Best move: Qxc3+ — queen a1→c3, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc3 (king d2→c3, captures queen).
4. Best move: Bxc5 — bishop f8→c5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/6p1/q1p1p1p1/1pp3Pp/4P3/1PQPB2P/2P2P2/2KR3R w kq - 0 21

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