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

Position

White: king h1; queen d4; rook a1; bishops c1/g2; knight b1; pawns a2/b4/e6/h2. Black: king g8; queen f8; rook a8; bishops c8/f4; knight c4; pawns a7/b7/c6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxc1 — bishop f4→c1, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: e7 — pawn e6→e7. Opponent replies Qxe7 (queen f8→e7, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qxc4+ — queen d4→c4, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Be6 (bishop c8→e6).
4. Best move: Qxc1 — queen c4→c1, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, equality, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxc4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2qk1/pp4pp/2p1P3/8/1PnQ1b2/8/P5BP/RNB4K b - - 0 20

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