Chess Puzzle #8gvW1 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen b3; rooks c1/h5; knight a3; pawns a2/b2/f3/g4/h3. Black: king b8; queen e8; rook d8; bishop g3; pawns a6/b7/c6/g7/h4. White is ahead by 5 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nc4 — knight a3→c4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qe2 — queen e8→e2. Opponent replies Qc2 (queen b3→c2).
3. Best move: Rd1+ — rook d8→d1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd1 (rook c1→d1, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxc2 — queen e2→c2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, exposed king, long, middlegame. The key move is Qe2.

Position data

FEN: 1k1rq3/1p4p1/p1p5/7R/6Pp/NQ3PbP/PP6/2R4K w - - 3 31

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