Chess Puzzle #3V27d — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks d1/h1; bishop e3; knights c3/f5; pawns a4/b2/c2/e4/f3/g4/h2. Black: king f8; queen c7; rooks b8/h8; bishops b5/e7; knights c5/f6; pawns a5/d6/e5/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxb5 — knight c3→b5, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nb3+ — knight c5→b3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
3. Best move: Nxd2+ — knight b3→d2, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, pin, queenside attack, short. The key move Nxd2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r3k1r/2q1bp2/3p1n1p/pbn1pN2/P3P1P1/2N1BP2/1PPQ3P/2KR3R w - - 0 19

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