Chess Puzzle #9W3ce — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; queen a4; rooks a1/h1; bishop c1; knights d4/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/g2/h3. Black: king e8; queen d7; rooks a8/h8; bishop c5; knight c6; pawns a6/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kf1 — king f2→f1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxd7+ (queen a4→d7, captures queen, gives check).
3. Best move: Kxd7 — king e8→d7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Nxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/3q1ppp/p1n1p3/2bpP3/Q2N4/5N1P/PPP2KP1/R1B4R w kq - 2 14

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