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

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/e2; knights d2/f3; pawns b4/e5/f4/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; bishop f5; knights d4/h6; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h4. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd4 — knight f3→d4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxd4+ — queen b6→d4, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
3. Best move: Qxa1 — queen d4→a1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Qxd4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/pp3pp1/1q2p2n/3pPb2/1P1n1P1p/5N2/3NB1PP/R1BQ1RK1 w kq - 0 14

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