Chess Puzzle #3K9dH — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen e4; rook c1; knights c3/e2; pawns a2/b2/d4/e5/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rook f8; bishop b4; knight c4; pawns a7/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight c3→d5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nd2+ — knight c4→d2, gives check. Opponent replies Ka1 (king b1→a1).
3. Best move: Qxc1+ — queen c7→c1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Nxc1 (knight e2→c1, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nxe4 — knight d2→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, discovered attack, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxc1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/p1q2p1p/6p1/4P3/1bnPQ1P1/2N5/PP2N2P/1KR5 w - - 7 24

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