Chess Puzzle #VC98n — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen d1; rooks c1/e1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/d5/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen f5; rooks a8/f6; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: dxc6 — pawn d5→c6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen f5→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g2→h1).
3. Best move: Rh6 — rook f6→h6. Opponent replies h4 (pawn h2→h4).
4. Best move: Qxg3 — queen f2→g3, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Qxf2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/ppp2ppp/2n2r2/3P1q2/8/2N1P1P1/PP3PKP/2RQR3 w - - 1 19

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