Chess Puzzle #77L75 — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/e2; bishops d3/h2; knights b5/f3; pawns a3/b2/c4/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishops c8/e7; knights f8/h5; pawns a6/b6/c5/d6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd6 — knight b5→d6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Bxd6 — bishop e7→d6, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook e2→e8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Bxh2+ — bishop d6→h2, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh2 (king g1→h2, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Qxe8 — queen d8→e8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Bxh2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bqrnk1/4bpp1/pp1p3p/1NpP3n/2P5/P2B1N1P/1PQ1RPPB/R5K1 w - - 0 18

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