Chess Puzzle #Ixp5R — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a5; rook a8; bishop f3; knight e5; pawns d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c7; queen d6; rook g7; bishop e6; knight b6; pawns b7/c6/e7/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc6 — knight e5→c6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qf4 — queen d6→f4. Opponent replies Qc5 (queen a5→c5).
3. Best move: Nxa8 — knight b6→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Qf4.

Position data

FEN: R7/1pk1p1r1/1npqb3/Q3N2p/3P4/5B2/5PPP/6K1 w - - 6 33

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