Chess Puzzle #hOVX6 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen c6; rook d1; bishop d4; knight b5; pawns a4/b2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king e7; queen e4; rook d7; bishop d6; knight d5; pawns c7/e6/f7/g7/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd6 — knight b5→d6, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ne3+ — knight d5→e3, gives check. Opponent replies fxe3 (pawn f2→e3, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxc6 — queen e4→c6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, middlegame, short. The key move is Ne3+.

Position data

FEN: 8/2prkpp1/2Qbp3/1N1n3p/P2Bq3/7P/1P3PP1/3R1K2 w - - 7 27

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