Chess Puzzle #EA2Ql — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen e4; rooks g1/g3; bishops b5/e3; knight c3; pawns c2/h6. Black: king h7; queen f7; rooks a8/f8; bishop e7; knight a2; pawns b2/c5/d6/g6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxg6+ — queen e4→g6, captures pawn, gives check. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxg6 — queen f7→g6, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxg6 (rook g3→g6, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxc3+ — knight a2→c3, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Nxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/4bq1k/3p2pP/1Bp5/4Q3/2N1B1R1/npP5/1K4R1 w - - 0 30

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