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

Position

White: king f2; queen g5; rooks h1/h2; bishop g2; knights e2/f6; pawns a2/b3/e5/f3/g4. Black: king h8; queen c2; rooks b8/f7; bishop c8; knights d4/f8; pawns a6/b7/d5/e6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxh7 — knight f6→h7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe2+ — queen c2→e2, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kg3 (king f2→g3).
3. Best move: Rxf3+ — rook f7→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf3 (bishop g2→f3, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxf3+ — queen e2→f3, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Qxe2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1rb2n1k/1p3r1p/p3pNp1/3pP1Q1/3n2P1/1P3P2/P1q1NKBR/7R w - - 2 27

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