Chess Puzzle #hEg53 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen f3; rooks d1/h1; bishop e4; pawns a3/b2/d4/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen c4; rooks a8/f8; knight b6; pawns b3/c7/f7/g5/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxa8 — bishop e4→a8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qc2+ — queen c4→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Ka1 (king b1→a1).
3. Best move: Rxa8 — rook f8→a8, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxa8+ (queen f3→a8, captures rook, gives check).
4. Best move: Nxa8 — knight b6→a8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, intermezzo, long, middlegame. The key move is Qc2+.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/2p2pp1/1n6/6p1/2qPB1P1/Pp3Q1P/1P6/1K1R3R w - - 4 26

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