Chess Puzzle #3skzX — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a2; queen a5; rook f1; knights a4/b5; pawns a3/b2/c4/f5/g3. Black: king b8; queen b7; rook h8; bishops e2/g5; pawns c5/e4/f6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc5 — knight a4→c5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Bxc4+ — bishop e2→c4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king a2→b1).
3. Best move: Qxb5 — queen b7→b5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxb5+ (queen a5→b5, captures queen, gives check).
4. Best move: Bxb5 — bishop c4→b5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Bxc4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k5r/1q6/5p2/QNp2Pb1/N1P1p3/P5P1/KP2b3/5R2 w - - 5 33

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