Chess Puzzle #3GAaA — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/g1; bishop h5; knights c3/h2; pawns a3/b2/e3/h3. Black: king g7; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; bishop f5; knight c2; pawns a6/b5/c5/d6/f7/g6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bg4 — bishop h5→g4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Na1 — knight c2→a1. Opponent replies Bxf5 (bishop g4→f5, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Nb3+ — knight a1→b3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
4. Best move: Nxd2+ — knight b3→d2, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice. The key move Nxd2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/4qpk1/p2p2p1/1pp2b1B/8/P1N1P2P/1PnQ3N/2KR2R1 w - - 0 21

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