Chess Puzzle #LjJS7 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen f3; rook h1; bishop b5; knights c3/f4; pawns d4/e3/f2/g2/h4. Black: king f8; queen c7; rook h8; bishops e6/g7; knight b2; pawns d5/f6/f7/g6/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nfxd5 — knight f4→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Bxd5 — bishop e6→d5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxd5 (queen f3→d5, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qxc3+ — queen c7→c3, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, capturing the defender, master, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5k1r/2q2pb1/4bpp1/1B1p3p/3P1N1P/2N1PQ2/1n3PP1/4K2R w K - 2 21

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