Chess Puzzle #BXVM4 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks d1/e1; bishop e4; pawns a3/b2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g5; rooks a8/f8; knight f4; pawns a7/b6/c7/e6/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf1 — queen d3→f1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nh3+ — knight f4→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
3. Best move: Nxf2+ — knight h3→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf2 (queen f1→f2, captures knight).
4. Best move: Rxf2 — rook f8→f2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, fork, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Nxf2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/p1p3p1/1p2p2p/6q1/3PBn2/P1PQ4/1P3PPP/3RR1K1 w - - 5 24

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