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

Position

White: king e1; queen d2; rooks a1/h1; bishops f1/f4; knight f3; pawns a2/c2/e2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b2; rooks a8/h8; bishop d7; knights e5/g8; pawns a7/b7/c7/f6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd4 — queen d2→d4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight e5→f3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies exf3 (pawn e2→f3, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxd4 — queen b2→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, opening, short. The key move Nxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k1nr/pppb2pp/5p2/4n3/5B2/5N2/PqPQPPPP/R3KB1R w KQkq - 2 12

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