Chess Puzzle #Bilwc — Intermediate, Black to move, opening

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks b1/d1; bishops b2/g2; knights d2/g5; pawns a3/b3/c4/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishops b7/g7; knights d7/f6; pawns a7/b6/c5/e4/f7/g6/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ngxe4 — knight g5→e4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxe4 — knight f6→e4, captures knight. Opponent replies Nxe4 (knight d2→e4, captures knight).
3. Best move: Bxe4 — bishop b7→e4, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxe4 (bishop g2→e4, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Rxe4 — rook e8→e4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Nxe4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2qr1k1/pb1n1pb1/1p3npp/2p3N1/2P1p3/PP2P1P1/1B1NQPBP/1R1R2K1 w - - 0 17

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