Chess Puzzle #Aw3I8 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b2; queen a5; rooks a1/g1; bishop g5; knight g3; pawns c3/d4/e5/f4/h5. Black: king b7; queen c4; rooks h7/h8; bishop b5; knight b8; pawns b3/d5/e6/f5/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rgd1 — rook g1→d1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nc6 — knight b8→c6. Opponent replies Qxb5+ (queen a5→b5, captures bishop, gives check).
3. Best move: Qxb5 — queen c4→b5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, master, middlegame, short. The key move is Nc6.

Position data

FEN: 1n5r/1k4pr/4p3/Qb1pPpBP/2qP1P2/1pP3N1/1K6/R5R1 w - - 0 33

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