Chess Puzzle #6gFW7 — Advanced, Black to move, opening

Position

White: king b1; queen e2; rooks d1/h1; bishops d2/f1; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f5/g5/h4. Black: king e8; queen a5; rooks b8/h8; bishop e7; knights a4/d7; pawns a7/b4/c5/e5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: h5 — pawn h4→h5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nc3+ — knight a4→c3, gives check. Opponent replies Bxc3 (bishop d2→c3, captures knight).
3. Best move: bxc3 — pawn b4→c3, captures bishop. Opponent replies Ka1 (king b1→a1).
4. Best move: Rxb2 — rook b8→b2, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, queenside attack. The key move is Nc3+.

Position data

FEN: 1r2k2r/p2nbppp/8/q1p1pPP1/np2P2P/5N2/PPPBQ3/1K1R1B1R w k - 1 19

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