Chess Puzzle #EP7rs — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen h5; rooks a1/e1; bishop d2; knight g6; pawns a4/b3/d4/f2/g3/h3. Black: king g7; queen f5; rooks a8/f7; bishop d6; knight h7; pawns a7/b7/d5/f6/g5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nh4 — knight g6→h4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxf2+ — queen f5→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king h2→h1).
3. Best move: gxh4 — pawn g5→h4, captures knight. Opponent replies Re2 (rook e1→e2).
4. Best move: Qxd4 — queen f2→d4, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxf2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r7/pp3rkn/3b1pN1/3p1qpQ/P2P4/1P4PP/3B1P1K/R3R3 w - - 1 27

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