Chess Puzzle #5M4NH — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rook a3; knight h2; pawns a4/b5/c4/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f4; rook a8; bishop e7; pawns a5/b6/c7/d6/e5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe2 — queen d3→e2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qc1+ — queen f4→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Nf1 (knight h2→f1).
3. Best move: Qxa3 — queen c1→a3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, fork, short. The key move is Qc1+.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/2p1b1pp/1p1p4/pP1Pp3/P1P2q2/R2Q3P/5PPN/6K1 w - - 0 25

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