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

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knights b1/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen f6; rooks a8/h8; bishops d6/f5; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight f3→e5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxe5 — queen f6→e5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxe5+ (queen e2→e5, captures queen, gives check).
3. Best move: Bxe5 — bishop d6→e5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/ppp2p1p/3b1qp1/4nb2/8/5N2/PPP1QPPP/RNB2RK1 w kq - 0 12

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