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

Position

White: king e1; queen c2; rooks a1/h1; bishops e2/h8; knights c3/f3; pawns b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen f5; rook a8; bishops b4/b7; knight e4; pawns a7/b5/c4/e6/f7/g4/h6. White is ahead by 6 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: O-O — king e1→g1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxc3 — knight e4→c3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxf5 (queen c2→f5, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxe2+ — knight c3→e2, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
4. Best move: exf5 — pawn e6→f5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, intermezzo, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Nxe2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k2B/pb3p2/4p2p/1p3q2/1bpPn1p1/2N2N2/1PQ1BPPP/R3K2R w KQq - 0 16

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