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

Position

White: king h1; queen d7; rook a1; bishops b2/c4; knights e4/h2; pawns a3/b3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks a8/f8; bishop e7; knights a6/f1; pawns a5/e5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc5 — knight e4→c5, captures queen. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ng3+ — knight f1→g3, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
3. Best move: Bxc5+ — bishop e7→c5, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move Bxc5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/3Qbppp/n7/p1q1p3/2B1N3/PP5P/1B4PN/R4n1K w - - 0 23

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