Chess Puzzle #4Ei20 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishop b3; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c3/d5/f5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g5; rook e8; bishop b7; knights e5/f2; pawns a6/b5/d6/d7/g4/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxf2 — king f1→f2, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nd3+ — knight e5→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king f2→g1).
3. Best move: Rxe1+ — rook e8→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe1 (queen d1→e1, captures rook).
4. Best move: Nxe1 — knight d3→e1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, discovered attack, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Rxe1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/1b1p4/p2p3p/1p1PnPq1/6p1/1BP5/PP1N1nPP/R2QRK2 w - - 0 23

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