Chess Puzzle #J0Eev — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen e3; rooks a1/h1; knights g5/h5; pawns a2/e5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e7; queen c6; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; pawns a7/b6/c7/d7/f7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf4 — queen e3→f4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qc3+ — queen c6→c3, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king e1→d1).
3. Best move: Qxa1+ — queen c3→a1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kc2 (king d1→c2).
4. Best move: Qxa2+ — queen a1→a2, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxa1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b4r/p1ppkp1p/1pq5/4P1NN/8/4Q2P/P4PP1/R3K2R w KQ - 2 18

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