Chess Puzzle #mKP3J — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Rating 1897 · Advanced · crushing, long, middlegame.

Position

White: king e1; queen a4; rooks a1/h1; bishop f1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c4/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king d8; queen f4; rook h8; bishops f8/g4; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Qxa7 — queen a4→a7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
  2. Best move: Ne4 — knight f6→e4. Opponent replies Qa8+ (queen a7→a8, gives check).
  3. Best move: Ke7 — king d8→e7. Opponent replies Nxe4 (knight c3→e4, captures knight).
  4. Best move: Qxe4+ — queen f4→e4, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Qxe4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3k1b1r/ppp2ppp/4pn2/8/Q1PP1qb1/2N5/PP3PPP/R3KB1R w KQ - 0 12

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