Chess Puzzle #CbeX0 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks d1/f1; bishop d2; knight d5; pawns a4/b2/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop b4; knight c6; pawns a5/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nb6 — knight d5→b6. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: cxb6 — pawn c7→b6, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxb4 (bishop d2→b4, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Nxb4 — knight c6→b4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook d1→d8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Nxc2 — knight b4→c2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, hanging piece, long, middlegame. The key move cxb6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/1pp2ppp/2n5/p2N4/Pb6/4P3/1PQB1PPP/3R1RK1 w - - 2 17

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