Chess Puzzle #L24UJ — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen f3; rooks d2/f1; bishop d3; pawns a3/c3/e4/g4/h4. Black: king g8; queen c5; rook c7; bishop e5; pawns a4/b5/d6/f7/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ka2 — king b1→a2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxc3 — queen c5→c3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qd1 (queen f3→d1).
3. Best move: b4 — pawn b5→b4. Opponent replies axb4 (pawn a3→b4, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Qxb4 — queen c3→b4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qb1 (queen d1→b1).
5. Best move: Qxd2+ — queen b4→d2, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxd2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/2r2p1p/3p4/1pq1b3/p3P1PP/P1PB1Q2/3R4/1K3R2 w - - 1 33

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