Chess Puzzle #YZx9J — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks c1/e1; bishops c4/d2; knight e4; pawns a3/b4/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/d4; knights d8/h5; pawns a7/b7/d6/f4/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Be5 — bishop d4→e5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxd6 — knight e4→d6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxd6 (queen e7→d6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rxe5 — rook e1→e5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxe5 (queen d6→e5, captures rook).
4. Best move: Bc3 — bishop d2→c3. Opponent replies Qxc3 (queen e5→c3, captures bishop).
5. Best move: Qxc3+ — queen c2→c3, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bn1r1k/pp2q3/3p3p/3P3n/1PBbNp2/P6P/2QB1PP1/2R1R1K1 b - - 1 21

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