Chess Puzzle #96xMl — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; queen e3; rooks d1/h1; bishop g5; knight f4; pawns b2/b3/d5/f3/h4. Black: king e8; queen f5; rooks a2/h8; bishop f8; knight b4; pawns c4/e6/f7/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: dxe6 — pawn d5→e6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxb2+ — rook a2→b2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke1 (king d2→e1).
3. Best move: Nc2+ — knight b4→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king e1→f2).
4. Best move: Nxe3+ — knight c2→e3, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, discovered attack, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Rxb2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4kb1r/5pp1/4p3/3P1qB1/1np2N1P/1P2QP2/rP1K4/3R3R w k - 3 24

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