Chess Puzzle #EB2t9 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a3; rooks a1/f1; bishops c1/e2; knights a5/e5; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks b8/f8; bishops c2/g7; knight h2; pawns a7/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxh2 — king g1→h2, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe5+ — queen c7→e5, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
3. Best move: Qxe2 — queen e5→e2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r3rk1/p1q2pbp/6p1/N3N3/8/Q7/PPb1BPPn/R1B2RK1 w - - 0 18

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