Chess Puzzle #1053E — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen e2; rook d1; knight d3; pawns a2/b3/d4/f2/g4. Black: king g7; queen d6; rook c7; bishop f4; pawns a3/g5/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne5 — knight d3→e5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxd4+ — queen d6→d4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king a1→b1).
3. Best move: Qxe5 — queen d4→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxe5+ (queen e2→e5, captures queen, gives check).
4. Best move: Bxe5 — bishop f4→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move Qxd4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/2r3k1/3q3p/6p1/3P1bP1/pP1N4/P3QP2/K2R4 w - - 7 40

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