Chess Puzzle #62KeP — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen e2; rooks c1/h1; bishops e3/f1; knight h8; pawns b3/d4/e4/f2/g4/h2. Black: king e8; queen a3; rook a8; bishop f8; knights b4/b8; pawns a2/b7/c6/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf3 — queen e2→f3. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxc1+ — queen a3→c1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxc1 (bishop e3→c1, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nc2+ — knight b4→c2, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The key move Qxc1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rn2kb1N/1p3ppp/2p1p3/8/1n1PP1P1/qP2B3/p3QP1P/K1R2B1R w q - 4 21

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