Chess Puzzle #12IJl — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e3; queen a6; rooks d1/e1; knight d4; pawns a2/b4/f3/g2. Black: king d7; queen h4; rooks d8/g8; knight e4; pawns a7/c7/d5/f7/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: fxe4 — pawn f3→e4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe4+ — queen h4→e4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king e3→d2).
3. Best move: Qxd4+ — queen e4→d4, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kc2 (king d2→c2).
4. Best move: Rxg2+ — rook g8→g2, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, interference, long, middlegame. The key move Qxe4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r2r1/p1pk1p2/Q7/3p3p/1P1Nn2q/4KP2/P5P1/3RR3 w - - 10 39

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