Chess Puzzle #IF1aN — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen c2; rooks b1/g1; bishop d6; knight g5; pawns a2/a4/c3/d4/e5/g4/h5. Black: king g8; queen e8; rooks a8/c6; knights d7/f7; pawns a5/b6/c4/d5/e6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxh7 — knight g5→h7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxd6 — knight f7→d6, captures bishop. Opponent replies Ng5 (knight h7→g5).
3. Best move: Ne4 — knight d6→e4. Opponent replies Nxe4 (knight g5→e4, captures knight).
4. Best move: dxe4 — pawn d5→e4, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame. The key move Nxd6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3q1k1/3n1n1p/1prBp1p1/p2pP1NP/P1pP2P1/2P5/P1Q5/1R4RK w - - 3 28

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