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

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop d3; knights e4/f3; pawns a2/b2/d4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks a8/f4; bishops c8/g7; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c7/e7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bg4 — bishop c8→g4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc1 — queen d1→c1. Opponent replies Rxe4 (rook f4→e4, captures knight).
3. Best move: Bc4 — bishop d3→c4. Opponent replies Be6 (bishop g4→e6).
4. Best move: Bxd5 — bishop c4→d5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The key move is Qc1.

Position data

FEN: rnb3k1/ppp1p1bp/6p1/3q4/3PNr2/3B1N2/PP4PP/R2Q1RK1 b - - 1 12

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