Chess Puzzle #4szE9 — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen e2; rook a8; knight a5; pawns b4/d4/e5/g2/g4. Black: king c7; queen a3; knight a4; pawns a6/b5/d5/e6/f7/g5. White is ahead by 4 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc2+ — queen e2→c2, gives check. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nc3+ — knight a4→c3, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc3+ (queen c2→c3, captures knight, gives check).
3. Best move: Qxc3 — queen a3→c3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, queenside attack, short. The key move is Nc3+.

Position data

FEN: R7/2k2p2/p3p3/Np1pP1p1/nP1P2P1/q7/4Q1P1/1K6 w - - 0 40

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