Chess Puzzle #n4k41 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen c4; rooks d1/h1; bishop b7; pawns a2/b2/c3/f3/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen f6; rooks d6/d8; bishop e7; pawns a5/b6/d4/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (7 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qa6 — queen c4→a6. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: dxc3 — pawn d4→c3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxd6 (rook d1→d6, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxd6 — queen f6→d6, captures rook. Opponent replies bxc3 (pawn b2→c3, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Qd2+ — queen d6→d2, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
5. Best move: Ba3 — bishop e7→a3. Opponent replies Qxb6 (queen a6→b6, captures pawn).
6. Best move: Qd3+ — queen d2→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Ka1 (king b1→a1).
7. Best move: Qxc3+ — queen d3→c3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king a1→b1).
8. Best move: Qd3+ — queen c3→d3, gives check.

Tactical themes

clearance, crushing, middlegame, queenside attack, quiet move, very long. The key move Qxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r4/1B2bppp/1p1r1q2/p7/2Qp4/2P2P2/PP4PP/2KR3R w - - 0 20

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