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

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks a1/e3; knight d4; pawns a2/b3/c3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks e8/f8; bishop e5; pawns a7/b7/d5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: g3 — pawn g2→g3. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxc3 — queen c7→c3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxc3 (rook e3→c3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Bxd4+ — bishop e5→d4, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, capturing the defender, master, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The key move Bxd4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4rrk1/ppq3pp/8/3pb3/3N4/1PP1R3/P3Q1PP/R5K1 w - - 2 23

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