Chess Puzzle #68NeD — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rook d1; bishop b2; knights c4/e5; pawns a3/b3/e2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rook c8; bishop e7; knights e4/f6; pawns a7/b6/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd7 — rook d1→d7. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ng5 — knight e4→g5. Opponent replies Rxc7 (rook d7→c7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxf3+ — knight g5→f3, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Nxf3 (knight e5→f3, captures knight).
4. Best move: Rxc7 — rook c8→c7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Nxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/p1q1bpp1/1p2pn1p/4N3/2N1n3/PP3QP1/1B2PP1P/3R2K1 w - - 5 23

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