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

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rooks c1/f1; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/f2/f5/g2. Black: king d7; queen a5; rooks c8/h8; knight g4; pawns a6/b7/d6/e7/f7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rfe1 — rook f1→e1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rh1+ — rook h8→h1, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh1 (king g1→h1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Nxf2+ — knight g4→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
4. Best move: Nxe4 — knight f2→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, deflection, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Nxf2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r4r/1p1kpp2/p2p4/q4P2/4Q1n1/P1N5/1P3PP1/2R2RK1 w - - 2 26

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