Chess Puzzle #u3W1b — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen g2; rooks d1/f7; bishop d3; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c2/h6. Black: king h8; queen c7; rooks c8/d8; bishops b7/e7; knight d4; pawns a6/b4/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc2 — knight d4→c2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxg6 — queen g2→g6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Na3+ (knight c2→a3, gives check).
3. Best move: Nc3 — knight e4→c3. Opponent replies Bg5+ (bishop e7→g5, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxg5 — queen g6→g5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxf7 (queen c7→f7, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qe5+ — queen g5→e5, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxg6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2rr3k/1bq1bR2/p5pP/8/1p1nN3/3B4/PPP3Q1/2KR4 b - - 4 31

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