Chess Puzzle #jF375 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a7; rooks b1/f1; bishops a3/a4; pawns a2/c3/c4/d5/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen c7; rooks f8/h8; bishop b7; knights e5/f6; pawns c6/d6/f4/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc4 — knight e5→c4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: dxc6 — pawn d5→c6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bxc6 (bishop b7→c6, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qa6+ — queen a7→a6, gives check. Opponent replies Bb7 (bishop c6→b7).
4. Best move: Rxb7 — rook b1→b7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxb7 (queen c7→b7, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qxc4+ — queen a6→c4, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, exposed king, fork, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxc4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2k2r1r/Qbq4p/2pp1np1/3Pn3/B1P2p2/B1P5/P5PP/1R3RK1 b - - 3 23

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