Chess Puzzle #Ej66b — Advanced, Black to move, opening

Position

White: king g2; queen d2; rooks b1/e1; bishops f2/f3; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/c2/e5/f4/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks c8/e8; bishop e6; knights c6/e4; pawns a6/b7/c4/d5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight c3→e4, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: dxe4 — pawn d5→e4, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxa5 (queen d2→a5, captures queen).
3. Best move: exf3+ — pawn e4→f3, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf3 (king g2→f3, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Nxa5 — knight c6→a5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move exf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r1r1k1/1p3pp1/p1n1b2p/q2pP3/2p1nPP1/P1N2B1P/1PPQ1BK1/1R2R3 w - - 1 22

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