Chess Puzzle #MXzYu — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen d3; rook d1; knight b5; pawns a2/b2/e4/g2. Black: king c8; queen g5; rook e8; knight g3; pawns a7/b7/d5/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight g3→e4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc2+ — queen d3→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
3. Best move: Qc7+ — queen c2→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Ka8 (king b8→a8).
4. Best move: Qa5 — queen c7→a5. Opponent replies a6 (pawn a7→a6).
5. Best move: Nc7+ — knight b5→c7, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, very long. The key move is Qc2+.

Position data

FEN: 2k1r3/pp3pp1/8/1N1p2q1/4P3/3Q2n1/PP4P1/1K1R4 b - - 1 23

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