Chess Puzzle #4hbib — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen d2; rooks a1/h1; bishop e2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d6; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/f6; pawns a7/b7/c4/d5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd5 — queen d2→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Bxc3+ — bishop f6→c3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies bxc3 (pawn b2→c3, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qxd5 — queen d6→d5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move Bxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k2r/pp3pp1/3q1b1p/3p4/2p5/2N5/PPPQBPPP/R3K2R w KQkq - 0 15

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