Chess Puzzle #0CcJO — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishop c1; knights e5/f4; pawns a2/b2/c2/d2/e4/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d4; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f8; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g4/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxg4 — knight e5→g4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe4+ — queen d4→e4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ne3 (knight g4→e3).
3. Best move: Qxf4 — queen e4→f4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, opening, short. The key move Qxe4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rnb1kb1r/pp3p1p/2p5/4N3/3qPNp1/8/PPPP2PP/R1BQK2R w KQkq - 1 10

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