Chess Puzzle #GeZ4I — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen f3; rooks d1/f1; knight c4; pawns a5/b2/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen g7; rooks e8/f8; knight f4; pawns a6/b7/c5/d6/g6/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd6 — knight c4→d6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ne2 — knight f4→e2. Opponent replies Qb3 (queen f3→b3).
3. Best move: Qe5+ — queen g7→e5, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king h2→h1).
4. Best move: Qxd6 — queen e5→d6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, master, middlegame, quiet move. The key move is Ne2.

Position data

FEN: 4rrk1/1p4q1/p2p2p1/P1pP3p/2N2n2/5Q1P/1P3PPK/3R1R2 w - - 8 30

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