Chess Puzzle #jJu57 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rook e1; bishops d3/f4; knight e2; pawns a2/b2/c4/d4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks e6/e8; knight d7; pawns a5/b7/c6/f6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qb3 — queen c2→b3. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxe2 — rook e6→e2, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxe2 (rook e1→e2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxd4+ — queen b6→d4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rf2 (rook e2→f2).
4. Best move: Nc5 — knight d7→c5.

Tactical themes

advantage, capturing the defender, fork, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Qxd4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/1p1n1p1p/1qp1rpp1/p7/2PP1B2/3B4/PPQ1N1PP/4R1K1 w - - 3 20

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