Chess Puzzle #hXcK1 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rook h8; bishop e3; knight e2; pawns a2/b2/c3/e5. Black: king e8; queen c4; rook c8; bishops e4/f8; pawns a6/b4/e6/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa2 — queen c4→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd6 — queen d2→d6. Opponent replies Qb1+ (queen a2→b1, gives check).
3. Best move: Kd2 — king c1→d2. Opponent replies bxc3+ (pawn b4→c3, captures pawn, gives check).
4. Best move: bxc3 — pawn b2→c3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qd3+ (queen b1→d3, gives check).
5. Best move: Qxd3 — queen d6→d3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, very long. The key move is Qd6.

Position data

FEN: 2r1kb1R/5pp1/p3p3/4P3/1pq1b3/2P1B3/PP1QN3/2K5 b - - 1 26

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