Chess Puzzle #SMEuO — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g3; queen d7; rook f2; knight f4; pawns a2/f3/g4/h3. Black: king h8; queen c4; rook g8; pawns a3/b3/c6/d5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Re2 — rook f2→e2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe2 — queen c4→e2, captures rook. Opponent replies Nxe2 (knight f4→e2, captures queen).
3. Best move: bxa2 — pawn b3→a2, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxc6 (queen d7→c6, captures pawn).
4. Best move: a1=Q — pawn a2→a1, promotes to queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, capturing the defender, crushing, endgame, long, promotion, sacrifice. The key move Qxe2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 6rk/3Q2pp/2p5/3p4/2q2NP1/pp3PKP/P4R2/8 w - - 0 39

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