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

Position

White: king c1; queen e2; rooks d1/h1; bishops c2/d2; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/e3/f2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/e8; bishop e7; knights c4/c5; pawns a7/c6/d5/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd5 — knight c3→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxa2 — queen a5→a2, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nxe7+ (knight d5→e7, captures bishop, gives check).
3. Best move: Rxe7 — rook e8→e7, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Qxa2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/p3b2p/2p3p1/q1np4/2n5/2N1P2P/PPBBQP2/2KR3R w - - 0 20

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