Chess Puzzle #2mZXs — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/e2; knight d2; pawns a3/b4/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g5; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/d5/e4/e6/g7/h5. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: f3 — pawn f2→f3. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe3+ — queen g5→e3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rf2 (rook f1→f2).
3. Best move: Nxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2rk1/1p4p1/p1n1p3/3p2qp/1P1Pp3/P3P3/2QNBPPP/R1B2RK1 w - - 2 17

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