Chess Puzzle #57o9g — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen d4; rook d3; pawns b3/f2/f4/h3. Black: king h6; queen e6; rook c6; pawns a7/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa7 — queen d4→a7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qe4+ — queen e6→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Rf3 (rook d3→f3).
3. Best move: Rc3 — rook c6→c3. Opponent replies Qe3 (queen a7→e3).
4. Best move: Rxe3 — rook c3→e3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, long, pin. The key move is Qe4+.

Position data

FEN: 8/p4p1p/2r1q1pk/8/3Q1P2/1P1R3P/5PK1/8 w - - 3 36

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