Chess Puzzle #Q9Ndc — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen c2; rooks a1/h1; bishop f2; knight d4; pawns a3/b4/c3/h4. Black: king h8; queen f4; rook a8; bishops a7/c8; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/c4/e6/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd2 — queen c2→d2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qe4+ — queen f4→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king e1→d1).
3. Best move: Qxh1+ — queen e4→h1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Qxh1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b4k/bp6/p1n1p2p/8/1PpN1q1P/P1P5/2Q2B2/R3K2R w KQ - 0 23

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