Chess Puzzle #Qc5p5 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d1; queen h8; rooks a1/e1; bishops c1/c4; knight d5; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/f3/h2. Black: king c8; queen g2; rook d8; bishop f2; knights c6/g8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e5/f7/h7. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxh7 — queen h8→h7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxf3+ — queen g2→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Re2 (rook e1→e2).
3. Best move: Nd4 — knight c6→d4. Opponent replies Qh3+ (queen h7→h3, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxh3 — queen f3→h3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Qxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr2nQ/ppp2p1p/2np4/3Np3/2B1P3/3P1P2/PPP2bqP/R1BKR3 w - - 3 13

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