Chess Puzzle #G6fg6 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen d2; rooks d1/f1; knight f3; pawns b2/c2/d3/e4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; knight d4; pawns b4/c7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb4 — queen d2→b4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ra1+ — rook a8→a1, gives check. Opponent replies Kxa1 (king b1→a1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Nxc2+ — knight d4→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb1 (king a1→b1).
4. Best move: Nxb4 — knight c2→b4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, deflection, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Nxc2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/2p2ppp/8/8/1p1nP3/3P1N2/1PPQ2PP/1K1R1R2 w - - 0 20

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