Chess Puzzle #wOOIp — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; queen f3; rooks a1/h1; bishops d3/g3; knights c3/e5; pawns c2/e3/f2/g2. Black: king e8; queen e7; rooks a8/h8; bishops b4/d7; knight f6; pawns a6/b7/d4/d5/e6/f7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: exd4 — pawn e3→d4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ne4+ — knight f6→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Bxe4 (bishop d3→e4, captures knight).
3. Best move: dxe4 — pawn d5→e4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxe4 (queen f3→e4, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Rc8 — rook a8→c8.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame, pin. The key move is Ne4+.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/1p1bqp2/p3pn1p/3pN3/1b1p4/2NBPQB1/2PK1PP1/R6R w kq - 0 18

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