Chess Puzzle #X7hsf — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1978 · Advanced · equality, long, master, middlegame, trapped piece.

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rook d1; bishops e3/f7; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d4/f2/g2. Black: king c8; queen a5; rook d8; bishop h8; knights d7/f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/e4/e5/f5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight c3→e4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Qxd2+ — queen a5→d2, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Nxd2 (knight e4→d2, captures queen).
  3. Best move: f4 — pawn f5→f4. Opponent replies Bxf4 (bishop e3→f4, captures pawn).
  4. Best move: exf4 — pawn e5→f4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, long, master, middlegame, trapped piece. The key move Qxd2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3b/pp1n1B2/2p2n2/q3pp2/3Pp3/2N1B3/PPPQ1PP1/2KR4 w - - 0 16

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