Chess Puzzle #9R9L3 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen d2; rooks a1/h1; knights a5/c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/e4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen h5; rooks a8/h8; bishop a6; knight f6; pawns a7/c4/c6/c7/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc6 — knight a5→c6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qc5 — queen h5→c5. Opponent replies dxc4 (pawn d3→c4, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qxc6 — queen c5→c6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short, trapped piece. The key move is Qc5.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/p1p2pp1/b1p2n1p/N6q/2p1P3/2NP1P2/PPPQ2PP/R3K2R w KQkq - 0 15

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