Chess Puzzle #4ef01 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rook a1; bishops c2/e7; knights c3/f3; pawns a3/b2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; rooks d8/e8; bishop b6; knight d1; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 9 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kf1 — king g1→f1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ne3+ — knight d1→e3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king f1→g1).
3. Best move: Nxc4+ — knight e3→c4, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
4. Best move: Rxe7 — rook e8→e7, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Nxc4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3rr1k1/pp2Bppp/1b6/8/2Q5/P1N2N2/1PB3PP/R2n2K1 w - - 0 21

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