Chess Puzzle #ZN9kf — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen e3; rooks d1/h1; knight c5; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g5; rook a8; bishop c8; knight f8; pawns a5/b7/c7/f4/g7/h6. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: h4 — pawn h2→h4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxc5 — queen g5→c5, captures knight. Opponent replies dxc5 (pawn d4→c5, captures queen).
3. Best move: fxe3 — pawn f4→e3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1b2nk1/1pp3p1/7p/p1N3q1/3P1p2/2P1Q3/PP3PPP/2KR3R w - - 0 18

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