Chess Puzzle #9LfLL — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops d2/f1; knights b1/g1; pawns a2/b2/c3/d3/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops c5/c8; knights b8/e4; pawns a7/b7/c7/e5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: dxe4 — pawn d3→e4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qh4+ — queen d8→h4, gives check. Opponent replies g3 (pawn g2→g3).
3. Best move: Qxe4+ — queen h4→e4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qe2 (queen d1→e2).
4. Best move: Qxh1 — queen e4→h1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, fork, long, opening. The key move Qxe4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rnbqk2r/ppp2ppp/8/2b1p3/4n3/2PP4/PP1B2PP/RN1QKBNR w KQkq - 0 7

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