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

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks b6/f1; bishops a3/d3; pawns a2/c3/c4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e5; rooks a8/f8; bishop e4; knight f6; pawns a6/c5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxc5 — bishop a3→c5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ng4 — knight f6→g4. Opponent replies Bd6 (bishop c5→d6).
3. Best move: Nxe3 — knight g4→e3, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxe5 (bishop d6→e5, captures queen).
4. Best move: Bxd3 — bishop e4→d3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, capturing the defender, long, middlegame. The key move is Ng4.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/5ppp/pR3n2/2p1q3/2P1b3/B1PBQ3/P5PP/5RK1 w - - 0 18

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