Chess Puzzle #0xugG — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks b3/h1; bishops f3/f4; knight c3; pawns a4/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d4; rooks a8/h8; bishop b4; knights c6/f6; pawns a6/b7/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen d1→d4, captures queen. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxb4 (rook b3→b4, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Nxc2+ — knight d4→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king e1→e2).
4. Best move: Nxb4 — knight c2→b4, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Nxc2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/1p3ppp/p1n1pn2/8/Pb1q1B2/1RN2B2/2P2PPP/3QK2R w Kkq - 0 15

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