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

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rook d1; knight e3; pawns a2/b2/c4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c5; rook e8; knight f2; pawns b6/b7/c7/f5/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxf2 — king g1→f2, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe3+ — queen c5→e3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king f2→f1).
3. Best move: Re4 — rook e8→e4.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, short. The key move Qxe3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/1pp4p/1p6/2q2p2/2P5/4N2P/PPQ2nP1/3R2K1 w - - 0 26

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