Chess Puzzle #5LbMm — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen e2; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/f1; knights c3/h8; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen d4; rook d8; bishops b4/e6; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 7 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Be3 — bishop c1→e3. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Bxc3+ — bishop b4→c3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies bxc3 (pawn b2→c3, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qxc3+ — queen d4→c3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Bd2 (bishop e3→d2).
4. Best move: Qxa1+ — queen c3→a1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Bxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3N/ppp2ppp/4bn2/8/1b1q4/2N5/PP2QPPP/R1B1KB1R w KQ - 0 12

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