Chess Puzzle #8n2nM — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen d3; rook h8; bishop e3; knight b6; pawns b2/b3/c2/e4/f3/g5. Black: king d8; queen a5; rook c8; bishop e7; knight f8; pawns a6/b5/d6/e5/f7/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc8 — knight b6→c8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qe1+ — queen a5→e1, gives check. Opponent replies Qd1 (queen d3→d1).
3. Best move: Qxe3+ — queen e1→e3, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
4. Best move: Kxc8 — king d8→c8, captures knight.

Tactical themes

deflection, equality, long, middlegame. The key move Qxe3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rk1n1R/4bpp1/pN1p4/qp2p1P1/4P3/1P1QBP2/1PP5/2K5 w - - 9 26

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