Chess Puzzle #H9oCX — Advanced, Black to move, opening

Position

White: king g1; queen a6; rooks c1/e1; bishops e3/f3; knight b5; pawns a2/b4/d5/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop e7; knights d7/e8; pawns a7/b6/d6/e5/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxa7 — knight b5→a7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qb8 — queen d8→b8. Opponent replies Rc8 (rook c1→c8).
3. Best move: Rxa7 — rook a8→a7, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxb8 (rook c8→b8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxa6 — rook a7→a6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, intermezzo, long, middlegame. The key move is Qb8.

Position data

FEN: r2qnrk1/p2nbpp1/Qp1p3p/1N1Pp3/1P2P3/4BB1P/P4PP1/2R1R1K1 w - - 5 20

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