Chess Puzzle #447EJ — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen b3; rooks a1/h1; bishop g2; pawns a2/b2/c5/f2/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen f6; rook a8; bishop g4; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/c7/d4/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: f4 — pawn f2→f4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qa6 — queen f6→a6. Opponent replies Kf2 (king e1→f2).
3. Best move: Qe2+ — queen a6→e2, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move is Qa6.

Position data

FEN: r6k/ppp3pp/5q2/2P1n3/3p2b1/1Q4P1/PP3PBP/R3K2R w KQ - 4 18

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