Chess Puzzle #0xsmv — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d1; queen e6; rooks a1/h1; bishop d2; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/f3/h4. Black: king e8; queen g3; rooks a8/h8; bishops e7/g6; knight d5; pawns a7/b7/c5/g4/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd5 — knight c3→d5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxf3+ — queen g3→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kc1 (king d1→c1).
3. Best move: Qxh1+ — queen f3→h1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Be1 (bishop d2→e1).
4. Best move: Kf8 — king e8→f8.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/pp2b1p1/4Q1b1/2pn4/6pP/P1NP1Pq1/1PPB4/R2K3R w kq - 0 18

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