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

Position

White: king e1; queen d5; rooks a1/h1; bishops c4/e3; knights d6/g5; pawns a2/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen e7; rooks a8/h8; bishops c8/g7; knights e5/g8; pawns a7/b7/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ngxf7 — knight g5→f7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxc4 — knight e5→c4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxc4 (queen d5→c4, captures knight).
3. Best move: Be6 — bishop c8→e6.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Nxc4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1b2knr/pp2qpbp/3N2p1/3Qn1N1/2B5/4B3/PP3PPP/R3K2R w KQ - 5 13

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