Chess Puzzle #x4crT — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen e2; rooks a1/c1; bishop a3; knight d2; pawns a4/d4/e3/f4/g3. Black: king c8; queen e6; rooks g8/h8; knights c6/d5; pawns a5/b6/e4/f7/h3. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight d2→e4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe4 — queen e6→e4, captures knight. Opponent replies Qa6+ (queen e2→a6, gives check).
3. Best move: Kd7 — king c8→d7. Opponent replies Qb7+ (queen a6→b7, gives check).
4. Best move: Nc7 — knight d5→c7. Opponent replies Qxc6+ (queen b7→c6, captures knight, gives check).
5. Best move: Qxc6 — queen e4→c6, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxc6 (rook c1→c6, captures queen).
6. Best move: Kxc6 — king d7→c6, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, hanging piece, middlegame, very long. The key move Qxe4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2k3rr/5p2/1pn1q3/p2n4/P2PpP2/B3P1Pp/3NQ2K/R1R5 w - - 1 26

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