Chess Puzzle #fAoWm — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b3; queen e5; rooks a1/e1; knight a3; pawns a2/b5/c3/d4/g3. Black: king b8; queen c7; rooks d6/h2; pawns a5/b7/c6/d5/g7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: bxc6 — pawn b5→c6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: a4+ — pawn a5→a4, gives check. Opponent replies Kxa4 (king b3→a4, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen c7→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb3 (king a4→b3).
4. Best move: Qb6+ — queen c6→b6, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, intermezzo, long, middlegame. The key move Qxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k6/1pq3p1/2pr4/pP1pQ3/3P4/NKP3P1/P6r/R3R3 w - a6 0 29

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