Chess Puzzle #b9KaC — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen c5; rooks d1/d6; bishops b2/f1; pawns a3/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g6; rooks a8/c8; bishop e6; knight h3; pawns a5/b6/c6/f5/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: exf5 — pawn e4→f5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: bxc5 — pawn b6→c5, captures queen. Opponent replies fxg6 (pawn f5→g6, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxf2+ — knight h3→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king h1→g1).
4. Best move: Nxd1 — knight f2→d1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, capturing the defender, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Nxf2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1r3k1/6pp/1ppRb1q1/p1Q2p2/4P3/P6n/1B3PPP/3R1B1K w - - 0 27

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