Chess Puzzle #591HC — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen d2; rooks a1/h1; bishop f1; knights e4/e5; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen e7; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; knight d7; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd7 — knight e5→d7, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe4+ — queen e7→e4, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qe2 (queen d2→e2).
3. Best move: Qxe2+ — queen e4→e2, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k2r/pppnqp1p/6p1/4N3/4N3/8/PPPQ1PPP/R3KB1R w KQkq - 1 11

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