Chess Puzzle #Qi0mh — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks c1/f1; bishops b5/f4; pawns a2/b2/f2/f3/h3. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishop e7; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qb6 — queen d8→b6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxb6 — queen e3→b6, captures queen. Opponent replies axb6 (pawn a7→b6, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxc6 — rook c1→c6, captures knight. Opponent replies bxc6 (pawn b7→c6, captures rook).
4. Best move: Bxc6+ — bishop b5→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
5. Best move: Bxa8 — bishop c6→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Bxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2qk2r/pp2bppp/2n1p3/1B1p4/5B2/4QP1P/PP3P2/2R2RK1 b kq - 5 15

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