Chess Puzzle #tAPZ8 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen d1; rook e1; bishop e3; knight c1; pawns d4/e5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b5; rook b1; bishops a3/d3; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc4 — queen b5→c4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd3 — queen d1→d3, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxc1 (rook b1→c1, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxa3 — queen d3→a3, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook c1→e1, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qa5 — queen a3→a5. Opponent replies b6 (pawn b7→b6).
5. Best move: Qxe1 — queen a5→e1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Qxd3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/pp3ppp/4p3/1q1pP3/3P4/b2bB2P/5PPK/1rNQR3 b - - 1 26

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