Chess Puzzle #z950e — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen a4; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/g2; knights c3/g1; pawns a2/b2/d2/e2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rook f8; bishops f2/g4; knights d7/f6; pawns c7/e6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 6 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kxf2 — king e1→f2, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ne4+ — knight f6→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king f2→e1).
3. Best move: Qh4+ — queen e7→h4, gives check. Opponent replies Kd1 (king e1→d1).
4. Best move: Nxc3+ — knight e4→c3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies bxc3 (pawn b2→c3, captures knight).
5. Best move: Bxe2+ — bishop g4→e2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nxe2 (knight g1→e2, captures bishop).
6. Best move: Qxa4+ — queen h4→a4, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, double check, middlegame, very long. The key move Nxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/2pnq1pp/4pn2/8/Q5b1/2N5/PP1PPbBP/R1B1K1NR w KQ - 0 12

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