Chess Puzzle #X34sI — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/d5; knight b1; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen e7; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/c5/d4/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: c4 — pawn c2→c4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxd5 — knight f6→d5, captures bishop. Opponent replies cxd5 (pawn c4→d5, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxe4+ — queen e7→e4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qe2 (queen d1→e2).
4. Best move: Qxe2+ — queen e4→e2, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, capturing the defender, long, opening, pin. The key move Qxe4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/pp2q1pp/2n2n2/2pB4/3pP3/8/PPP2PPP/RNBQK2R w KQkq - 3 10

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