Chess Puzzle #7bRVx — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rook e2; bishop d3; knight c5; pawns a3/b4/c3/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen c7; rook e7; bishop f4; knight e4; pawns a4/d5/f5/f6/g3/h4. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: f3 — pawn f2→f3. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxc3 — knight e4→c3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxe7+ (rook e2→e7, captures rook, gives check).
3. Best move: Qxe7 — queen c7→e7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Nxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 8/2q1r1k1/5p2/2Np1p2/pP1Pnb1p/P1PB2pP/4RPP1/3Q2K1 w - - 0 39

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