Chess Puzzle #3ThLB — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen c2; rooks d1/h1; knight e4; pawns a3/b2/d5/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen f5; rooks a4/a8; bishop g7; pawns c5/e5/g4/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc5 — knight e4→c5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxc2+ — queen f5→c2, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc2 (king b1→c2, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rc4+ — rook a4→c4, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c2→b1).
4. Best move: Rxc5 — rook c4→c5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Qxc2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/6b1/7p/2pPpq2/r3N1p1/P7/1PQ2PP1/1K1R3R w - - 1 24

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