Chess Puzzle #SumEx — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rook b7; bishop f4; knight b5; pawns a2/b3/f2/g5/h2. Black: king d8; queen f5; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knight g8; pawns a7/d5/e6/f7/g6/g7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: a6 — pawn a7→a6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc3 — queen f3→c3. Opponent replies Qxf4 (queen f5→f4, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qa5+ — queen c3→a5, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king d8→e8).
4. Best move: Nc7+ — knight b5→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc7 (queen f4→c7, captures knight).
5. Best move: Qxc7 — queen a5→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move is Qc3.

Position data

FEN: r2k1bnr/pR3pp1/4p1p1/1N1p1qP1/5B2/1P3Q2/P4P1P/6K1 b - - 0 23

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