Chess Puzzle #2wxOV — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen b4; rooks b7/d1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2. Black: king g8; queen f5; rooks c8/f8; knight c4; pawns f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight c3→d5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Na3+ — knight c4→a3, gives check. Opponent replies bxa3 (pawn b2→a3, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxc2+ — queen f5→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ka1 (king b1→a1).
4. Best move: Qxd1+ — queen c2→d1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, long, master, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxc2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/1R3p1p/6p1/5q2/1Qn5/2N5/PPP5/1K1R4 w - - 1 27

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