Chess Puzzle #2Xpdl — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/f1; knight f3; pawns e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rook a8; knight d5; pawns a3/b4/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rfb1 — rook f1→b1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nc3 — knight d5→c3. Opponent replies Qc2 (queen e2→c2).
3. Best move: Nxb1 — knight c3→b1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Nc3.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/5ppp/1q2p3/3n4/1p6/p3PN2/4QPPP/R4RK1 w - - 2 28

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