Chess Puzzle #604ct — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c3; rooks f1/g7; bishop b2; pawns a3/b4/c4/e6/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f6; rooks b8/f8; bishop g5; knight f4; pawns a7/b7/c6/e4/g4. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxg5 — rook g7→g5, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ne2+ — knight f4→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
3. Best move: Qxc3 — queen f6→c3, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxc3+ (bishop b2→c3, captures queen, gives check).
4. Best move: Nxc3 — knight e2→c3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Ne2+.

Position data

FEN: 1r3r1k/pp4R1/2p1Pq2/6b1/1PP1pnp1/P1Q5/1B4PP/5RK1 w - - 1 28

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