Chess Puzzle #6xd0U — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; queen c2; rooks a1/f1; knights c3/f3; pawns a3/b2/e3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a8; rook c8; bishop d6; knight c5; pawns a7/b6/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: b4 — pawn b2→b4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ne4+ — knight c5→e4, gives check. Opponent replies Nxe4 (knight c3→e4, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rxc2+ — rook c8→c2, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc2 (king d2→c2, captures rook).
4. Best move: dxe4 — pawn d5→e4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, long, middlegame. The key move Rxc2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: q1r3k1/p4ppp/1p1bp3/2np4/8/P1N1PN2/1PQK2PP/R4R2 w - - 0 20

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