Chess Puzzle #as6xc — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen b3; knight d8; pawns b4/d7/g3/h3. Black: king h7; queen e5; knight e3; pawns b6/f5/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf7 — knight d8→f7. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nf1+ — knight e3→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h2→g1).
3. Best move: Qe1 — queen e5→e1. Opponent replies Qb1 (queen b3→b1).
4. Best move: Qxb1 — queen e1→b1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

clearance, crushing, endgame, long. The key move is Nf1+.

Position data

FEN: 3N4/3P2pk/1p5p/4qp2/1P6/1Q2n1PP/7K/8 w - - 3 42

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