Chess Puzzle #3E5d5 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop d3; knight d2; pawns a2/e3/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b4; rooks a8/f8; bishop d7; knight d4; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: exd4 — pawn e3→d4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxd4+ — queen b4→d4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rf2 (rook f1→f2).
3. Best move: Qxd3 — queen d4→d3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Qxd4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp1b1ppp/4p3/3pP3/1q1n4/3BP3/P2N2PP/R2Q1RK1 w - - 0 17

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