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

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rooks a1/f1; bishop e3; pawns a2/b4/c4/d5/f2/h2. Black: king b8; rooks d8/h8; bishops f3/f8; knight e4; pawns a7/b7/c5/e5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: bxc5 — pawn b4→c5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nc3 — knight e4→c3. Opponent replies Qc2 (queen a4→c2).
3. Best move: Ne2+ — knight c3→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe2 (queen c2→e2, captures knight).
4. Best move: Bxe2 — bishop f3→e2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Nc3.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r1b1r/pp3ppp/8/2pPp3/QPP1n3/4Bb2/P4P1P/R4RK1 w - - 2 17

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