Chess Puzzle #AxL75 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks a1/f1; bishop c4; knight e5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d3/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishop e6; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c5/c6/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc5 — queen e3→c5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: b6 — pawn b7→b6. Opponent replies Qxc6 (queen c5→c6, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qxe5 — queen c7→e5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is b6.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/ppq2pp1/2p1bn1p/2p1N3/2B1P3/2PPQ3/PP3PPP/R4RK1 w - - 7 18

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