Chess Puzzle #6pQv4 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen d1; bishop e6; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c7; queen f4; knights e5/e7; pawns a7/b7/c6/f6/g6/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf2 — queen f4→f2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ne4 — knight c3→e4. Opponent replies Qe3 (queen f2→e3).
3. Best move: Qd6+ — queen d1→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Kb6 (king c7→b6).
4. Best move: Qb4+ — queen d6→b4, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, long. The key move is Ne4.

Position data

FEN: 8/ppk1n1p1/2p1Bpp1/4n3/5q2/2N5/PPP2PPP/1K1Q4 b - - 3 22

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