Find The Best Move! (Rated 1450)

1. Nc5 looks good but black exchanges queens with ..Qxf2+ and ..Qf3+. After that, things are not so easy any more.

1.Qd4 the only way to stop mate is 1...Qxf2+ which will lose a rook. If 1...Kxb7 it's mate in 5.

I agree with your key move!

Thia is not 1450, probbly 2000+

Correctomundo, Erik!

Such a 'passive' move but incredibly deadly nonetheless.

It took me about 1:30 to find it...I'm only about 1500-1600. 
Tactics are about 1750-1850.

Do you mean, Qxg3+?
If so, then it's a forced mate in 5 (according to me, I could be wrong).

The sequence goes (after Nc5) 1...Qxf2+ 2. Kg1 Qxg3+ 3. Qg2 Be3+ 4. Rxe3 Qxg2#

Am I overlooking anything, or is it a forced mate in 4? Suggestions ?

After 1. Nc5? Qxf2+ white can play only one legal move: 2. Kh1 which is replied to with 2. .. Qf3+ exchanging the queens.

(your variation is illegal)

You're correct. I don't know what I was thinking haha.
Okay then you were right about 2...Qf3+ losing a rook to stay in the game.

I'm actually really surprised most people couldn't find the best move here despite being much higher rated than me. It could be that this tactic is much more difficult than I gave it credit for. What do you guys think the tactic should be rated to?

I hadn't seen the rook loss yet but I suppose you are right. The natural continuation is: 3. Qxf3 Rxf3 4. Rae1! and there is no decent defense against Re8+.

Qd4 looks the obvious move to me. Defends f2 and threatens on b7 at the same time. He certainly can't take my knight, and it looks like Kxb7 will probably give me a mating trap too.

@cashcow8: Was confirmed. See post #7. However, 1. Nc5 turns out to be very good as well!

I repent again. The whole variation is doubtful anyway:

4. .. Rxg3! 5. Re8+ Bd8! and now it is black threatening ..Rxh3#

So after all, 1. Nc5 may not be such a good idea!