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

Position

White: king h1; queen e4; rooks a1/e1; bishop c1; pawns b2/e2/e5/f3/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen a7; rook f8; bishop h3; knight d5; pawns a5/b5/c4/e6/f5/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qh4 — queen e4→h4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qf2 — queen a7→f2. Opponent replies Rg1 (rook e1→g1).
3. Best move: Bf1 — bishop h3→f1. Opponent replies Bxh6 (bishop c1→h6, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Bxe2 — bishop f1→e2, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move is Qf2.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/q5p1/4p2p/pp1nPp2/2p1Q3/5PPb/1P2P2P/R1B1R2K w - f6 0 20

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