Chess Puzzle #oSeg3 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen c3; knight e8; pawns c6/d5/e2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king f7; queen b5; knight g6; pawns c7/d6/e5/f4/g4/h3. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc7 — knight e8→c7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qb1+ — queen b5→b1, gives check. Opponent replies Qe1 (queen c3→e1).
3. Best move: Qe4 — queen b1→e4. Opponent replies f3 (pawn f2→f3).
4. Best move: gxf3 — pawn g4→f3, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move is Qb1+.

Position data

FEN: 4N3/2p2k2/2Pp2n1/1q1Pp3/5pp1/2Q3Pp/4PP1P/5K2 w - - 2 36

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