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

Position

White: king c1; queen f4; rooks d1/f6; bishop g3; knight g5; pawns a2/b2/c2/c5/e4. Black: king b8; queen d7; rooks d8/f8; bishop g6; knight c4; pawns a7/b7/c7/d5/f7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: exd5 — pawn e4→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qa4 — queen d7→a4. Opponent replies Rxg6 (rook f6→g6, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qxa2 — queen a4→a2, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxc4 (queen f4→c4, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxc4 — queen a2→c4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move is Qa4.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r1r2/pppq1p2/5Rb1/2Pp2N1/2n1PQ2/6B1/PPP5/2KR4 w - - 0 24

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