Chess Puzzle #MzCk5 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rook b3; knight b5; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h4. Black: king g7; queen a6; rook e5; bishop b7; pawns a5/d5/e6/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc6 — queen a6→c6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd4 — queen d2→d4. Opponent replies f6 (pawn f7→f6).
3. Best move: Rc3 — rook b3→c3. Opponent replies Qxb5 (queen c6→b5, captures knight).
4. Best move: Rc7+ — rook c3→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
5. Best move: Qa7 — queen d4→a7.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The key move is Qd4.

Position data

FEN: 8/1b3pk1/q3p1pp/pN1pr3/7P/1R6/PP1Q1PP1/6K1 b - - 1 29

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