Chess Puzzle #5R59Q — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rooks a1/f1; bishop b2; knight c3; pawns a4/c5/d4/e3/f2. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/h4; bishop e7; pawns b5/c6/e4/f5/f6/g6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: f4 — pawn f2→f4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: exf3 — pawn e4→f3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxf3 (rook f1→f3, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qh2+ — queen c7→h2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king g1→f1).
4. Best move: Qxb2 — queen h2→b2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

crushing, en passant, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame. The key move exf3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3k3/2q1b3/2p1Qpp1/1pP2p2/P2Pp2r/2N1P3/1B3P2/R4RK1 w q - 0 23

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