Chess Puzzle #3dE05 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a6; rook a8; bishops d4/e2; knights c3/f1; pawns b4/d6/g3/h4. Black: king g7; queen c6; rook b7; bishops d7/h6; knights e5/f6; pawns b5/c4/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc6 — queen a6→c6, captures queen. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxc6 — knight e5→c6, captures queen. Opponent replies Bf3 (bishop e2→f3).
3. Best move: Nxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Nxc6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: R7/1r1b1pk1/Q1qP1npb/1p2n2p/1PpB3P/2N3P1/4B3/5NK1 w - - 1 34

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