Chess Puzzle #9W6aP — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c6; rooks a1/f1; bishops b5/c5; pawns a4/e4/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; knights f4/f6; pawns e5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxf8 — bishop c5→f8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qd2 — queen d8→d2. Opponent replies Rf2 (rook f1→f2).
3. Best move: Nh3+ — knight f4→h3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
4. Best move: Nxf2+ — knight h3→f2, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Nxf2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/5ppp/2Q2n2/1BB1p3/P3Pn2/5P2/7P/R4RK1 w - - 3 26

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