Chess Puzzle #4bss5 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rook e1; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/g4/h4. Black: king f7; queen e6; knight e4; pawns a6/b7/d5/f4/g5/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: c4 — pawn c3→c4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nd2 — knight e4→d2. Opponent replies Qxd5 (queen f3→d5, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qxd5 — queen e6→d5, captures queen. Opponent replies cxd5 (pawn c4→d5, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nf3+ — knight d2→f3, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
5. Best move: Nxe1 — knight f3→e1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, exposed king, fork, very long. The key move is Nd2.

Position data

FEN: 8/1p3k2/p3q2p/3p2p1/3PnpPP/2P2Q2/PP6/4R1K1 w - - 1 37

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