Chess Puzzle #hb4UA — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen c4; rooks c1/g1; knight c5; pawns a3/b4/e3/f2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks e8/g5; knight g2; pawns a6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxa6 — knight c5→a6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qf3 — queen c6→f3. Opponent replies Qc6 (queen c4→c6).
3. Best move: Re4 — rook e8→e4. Opponent replies Qxe4 (queen c6→e4, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxe4 — queen f3→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move is Qf3.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/5pp1/p1q4p/2N3r1/1PQ5/P3P3/5PnP/2R3RK w - - 2 27

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