Chess Puzzle #8PC5N — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/f1; bishops c4/h4; knight d2; pawns b4/c3/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks a8/f8; bishops a7/b7; knight f6; pawns a6/d7/e5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxa6 — bishop c4→a6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Bxa6 — bishop b7→a6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxa6 (queen d3→a6, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qxa6 — queen b6→a6, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxa6 (rook a1→a6, captures queen).
4. Best move: Bxf2+ — bishop a7→f2, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Bxf2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/bb1p1pp1/pq3n1p/4p3/1PB1P2B/2PQ4/3N1PPP/R4RK1 w - - 2 18

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