Chess Puzzle #1lEid — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e2; queen d5; rooks g1/g2; bishop d3; knight c5; pawns a2/c3/d4/e3/f2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b8; rooks e6/e8; bishop g7; knight b5; pawns c7/f6/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe6 — knight c5→e6, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxc3+ — knight b5→c3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king e2→f1).
3. Best move: Nxd5 — knight c3→d5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Nxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1q2r1k1/2p2pbp/4rpp1/1nNQ4/3P4/2PBP3/P3KPRP/6R1 w - - 3 21

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