Chess Puzzle #4P8wx — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/f1; bishop h7; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c3/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen e7; rooks a8/e8; bishop f6; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e5/f7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: h3 — pawn h2→h3. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: e4 — pawn e5→e4. Opponent replies Qxe4 (queen c2→e4, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qxe4 — queen e7→e4, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxe4 (bishop h7→e4, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxe4 — rook e8→e4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is e4.

Position data

FEN: r3r2k/ppp1qp1B/2n2b1p/4p3/8/2P1PN2/PPQ2PPP/R4RK1 w - - 1 16

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