Chess Puzzle #AMoTR — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen b6; rooks a1/g1; knights a4/g5; pawns a2/b2/c4/d3/e5/h2. Black: king a8; queen e7; rooks d8/h8; bishop h6; knight f4; pawns d4/d7/e6/f5/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nc5 — knight a4→c5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxc5 — queen e7→c5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxc5 (queen b6→c5, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxd3+ — knight f4→d3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke2 (king e1→e2).
4. Best move: Nxc5 — knight d3→c5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, capturing the defender, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Nxd3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: k2r3r/3pq2p/1Q2p2b/4PpN1/N1Pp1n2/3P4/PP5P/R3K1R1 w Q - 3 24

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