Chess Puzzle #666rc — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rook a1; knight d3; pawns a2/b2/e5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rook a8; knight d4; pawns b4/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb4 — queen d2→b4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nc2 — knight d4→c2. Opponent replies Rc1 (rook a1→c1).
3. Best move: Nxb4 — knight c2→b4, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxc7 (rook c1→c7, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nxd3 — knight b4→d3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, fork, long. The key move is Nc2.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/2q2ppp/4p3/3pP3/1p1n4/3N3P/PP1Q1PP1/R5K1 w - - 3 27

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