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

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen e7; rooks a8/h8; bishops e4/f8; knight f6; pawns a6/d6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight c3→e4, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe4 — queen e7→e4, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxe4+ (queen c4→e4, captures queen, gives check).
3. Best move: Nxe4 — knight f6→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3kb1r/4qppp/p2p1n2/8/2Q1b3/2N5/PPP2PPP/R1B2RK1 w kq - 0 15

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