Chess Puzzle #NOxcx — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen g5; rook g2; bishop e1; pawns a2/b4/f2/h2/h4. Black: king h8; queen f3; rook g8; pawns b5/d3/e2/e3/g7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe3 — queen g5→e3, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe3 — queen f3→e3, captures queen. Opponent replies fxe3 (pawn f2→e3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rd8 — rook g8→d8.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, short. The key move Qxe3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/6p1/8/1p4Q1/1P5P/3ppq2/P3pPRP/4B2K w - - 0 37

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