Chess Puzzle #MsRk9 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f4; rook c1; bishop c7; pawns a2/g3/h2. Black: king d7; queen f7; rook h8; bishop c6; knight f6; pawns a7/e6/f5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight f6→d5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd6+ — queen f4→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king d7→c8).
3. Best move: Qxc6 — queen d6→c6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Nxc7 (knight d5→c7, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Qa8+ — queen c6→a8, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, long, middlegame, pin. The key move is Qd6+.

Position data

FEN: 7r/p1Bk1qpp/2b1pn2/5p2/5Q2/6P1/P6P/2R3K1 b - - 4 26

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