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

Position

White: king c1; queen e2; rooks e1/h1; bishop e6; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f4/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen e7; rooks a8/h8; bishop b7; knights c6/g8; pawns a6/b6/c7/f5/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc4 — queen e2→c4. Opponent replies Nxe6 (knight d4→e6, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Rxe6 — rook e1→e6, captures knight. Opponent replies O-O-O (king e8→c8).
4. Best move: Rxe7 — rook e6→e7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, pin. The key move is Qc4.

Position data

FEN: r3k1nr/1bp1q3/ppn1B1pp/5p2/3P1P2/2N5/PPP1Q1PP/2K1R2R b kq - 0 16

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