Chess Puzzle #5ifP1 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen c6; rooks c1/d1; bishops b3/g5; knight e2; pawns b4/c7/d5/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen c8; rook f8; bishop g7; knight a4; pawns b5/d6/e5/g4/h3. White is ahead by 8 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Be3 — bishop g5→e3. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qf5 — queen c8→f5. Opponent replies Nf4 (knight e2→f4).
3. Best move: Qe4+ — queen f5→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
4. Best move: Qxe3+ — queen e4→e3, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, long, middlegame, quiet move. The key move Qxe3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2q2r1k/2P3b1/2Qp4/1p1Pp1B1/nP4p1/1B4Pp/4N2P/2RR3K w - - 1 40

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