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

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rook e1; bishops c2/h6; knight b5; pawns b4/c3/f5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e5; rook e8; bishops e4/f6; knight d2; pawns c7/d6/f7/g5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc7 — knight b5→c7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxc3 — queen e5→c3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bxg5 (bishop h6→g5, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Nf3+ — knight d2→f3, gives check. Opponent replies gxf3 (pawn g2→f3, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxe1+ — queen c3→e1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxe1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/2p2p2/3p1b1B/1N2qPp1/1P2b1Q1/2P5/2Bn2PP/4R1K1 w - - 2 26

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