Chess Puzzle #LNOfM — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/f1; bishops d2/h7; pawns a2/b3/c4/e5/f4/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishops b7/e7; pawns a7/b6/c5/d4/f7/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Be4 — bishop h7→e4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: d3 — pawn d4→d3. Opponent replies Bxd3 (bishop e4→d3, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qd4+ — queen d8→d4, gives check. Opponent replies Be3 (bishop d2→e3).
4. Best move: Qxe3+ — queen d4→e3, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, clearance, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Qxe3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2qr2k/pb2bppB/1p6/2p1P3/2Pp1P2/1P4P1/P1QB3P/R4RK1 w - - 1 21

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