Chess Puzzle #52OX6 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rook a1; bishop d6; knight d2; pawns a2/b3/c4/d5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f2; rook e8; knight d3; pawns a6/b7/c5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kh1 — king g1→h1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Re1+ — rook e8→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe1 (queen d1→e1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Nxe1 — knight d3→e1, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxe1 (rook a1→e1, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxe1+ — queen f2→e1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxe1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/1p3ppp/p2B4/2pP4/2P5/1P1n3P/P2N1qP1/R2Q2K1 w - - 0 23

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