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

Position

White: king e1; queen d1; rooks c1/h1; bishops e3/f3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c4/f2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/e8; bishops e6/g7; pawns a7/b7/c6/e7/f7/g6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qa4 — queen d1→a4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Bxc3+ — bishop g7→c3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc3 (rook c1→c3, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qxa4 — queen a5→a4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move Bxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/pp2ppb1/2p1b1p1/q7/2P5/2N1BB1P/PP3P2/2RQK2R w K - 2 16

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