Chess Puzzle #evl0G — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; queen f4; knight c5; pawns a4/c3/d4/g2/g3/h2. Black: king b6; queen c4; rook a8; knight b4; pawns a7/b7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Na2 — knight b4→a2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd6+ — queen f4→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Ka5 (king b6→a5).
3. Best move: Qc7+ — queen d6→c7, gives check. Opponent replies b6 (pawn b7→b6).
4. Best move: Nb7+ — knight c5→b7, gives check. Opponent replies Ka6 (king a5→a6).
5. Best move: Qxc4+ — queen c7→c4, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, endgame, exposed king, very long. The key move Qxc4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r7/pp6/1k6/2N5/PnqP1Q2/2P3P1/3K2PP/8 b - - 4 36

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