Chess Puzzle #ccKt2 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; queen d1; rooks a1/h1; bishop d2; knight e2; pawns a2/b4/c3/e5/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen h4; rooks a8/h8; bishop c6; pawns a7/b6/e4/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kg1 — king f2→g1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: e3 — pawn e4→e3. Opponent replies Bxe3 (bishop d2→e3, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qe4 — queen h4→e4. Opponent replies Qf1 (queen d1→f1).
4. Best move: Qxe3+ — queen e4→e3, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

clearance, equality, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Qxe3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/p4ppp/1pb1p3/4P3/1P2p2q/2P5/P2BNKPP/R2Q3R w kq - 1 16

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