Chess Puzzle #o5s4L — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rook a1; bishop d2; knight c5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d6; rook f8; bishop g7; knight d5; pawns a7/b5/c6/e6/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: e4 — pawn e3→e4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxc3 — knight d5→c3, captures pawn. Opponent replies bxc3 (pawn b2→c3, captures knight).
3. Best move: Bxd4+ — bishop g7→d4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies cxd4 (pawn c3→d4, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Qxd4+ — queen d6→d4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qe3 (queen e2→e3).
5. Best move: Qxa1+ — queen d4→a1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Bxd4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/p5bp/2pqp1p1/1pNn4/3P4/2P1P3/PP1BQ1PP/R5K1 w - - 3 21

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