Chess Puzzle #3JQ7j — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/e2; knights b1/f3; pawns a5/b5/c5/d4/g2. Black: king b8; queen d7; rooks e8/h8; bishops g4/h2; knights b4/e7; pawns a7/b7/c7/f6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxh2 — knight f3→h2, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Bxe2 — bishop g4→e2, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxe2 (queen d1→e2, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qxd4+ — queen d7→d4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Be3 (bishop c1→e3).
4. Best move: Qxa1 — queen d4→a1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1k2r2r/pppqn2p/5p2/PPP5/1n1P2b1/5N2/4B1Pb/RNBQ1RK1 w - - 0 17

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