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

Position

White: king c1; queen b3; rooks d3/g1; knight f3; pawns a2/c2/d4/f4/f6/g2/h4. Black: king e8; queen a5; rooks a8/g8; knight c3; pawns b4/c6/d5/e6/f5/f7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa2 — queen a5→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxb4 — queen b3→b4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qa1+ (queen a2→a1, gives check).
3. Best move: Kd2 — king c1→d2. Opponent replies Ne4+ (knight c3→e4, gives check).
4. Best move: Ke3 — king d2→e3. Opponent replies Qxg1+ (queen a1→g1, captures rook, gives check).
5. Best move: Nxg1 — knight f3→g1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxb4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3k1r1/5p1p/2p1pP2/q2p1p2/1p1P1P1P/1QnR1N2/P1P3P1/2K3R1 b q - 6 22

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