Chess Puzzle #cbQBC — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; knight c3; pawns b4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen e8; knight f6; pawns b5/d5/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd5 — knight c3→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qd8 — queen e8→d8. Opponent replies Qxf6+ (queen d4→f6, captures knight, gives check).
3. Best move: Qxf6 — queen d8→f6, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxf6 (knight d5→f6, captures queen).
4. Best move: Kxf6 — king g7→f6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move is Qd8.

Position data

FEN: 4q3/5pk1/5npp/1p1p4/1P1Q4/2N4P/5PP1/6K1 w - - 0 38

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