Chess Puzzle #77bt0 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rooks b1/e2; bishop d2; knight e5; pawns a3/c3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king b7; queen f6; rooks d8/f8; knights c6/g6; pawns a7/b6/c7/d5/g4/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc6 — knight e5→c6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxc6 — queen f6→c6, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxc6+ (queen a4→c6, captures queen, gives check).
3. Best move: Kxc6 — king b7→c6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 3r1r2/pkp5/1pn2qn1/3pN2p/Q2P2p1/P1P5/3BRPPP/1R4K1 w - - 4 21

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