Chess Puzzle #7ptAb — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops b4/c4; knights b1/f3; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen e4; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; knights c6/g8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe2 — queen d1→e2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe2+ — queen e4→e2, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe2 (king e1→e2, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxb4 — knight c6→b4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, opening, short. The key move Qxe2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k1nr/pppp1ppp/2n5/8/1BBPq3/5N2/PP3PPP/RN1QK2R w KQkq - 0 9

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