Chess Puzzle #c86gO — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b2; queen b4; rooks a1/h1; bishop e3; pawns b3/c2/e4/f6/g5/h4. Black: king e8; queen b8; rook f8; bishop b5; knights c8/e5; pawns d5/e6/f7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ra7 — rook a1→a7. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nc6 — knight e5→c6. Opponent replies Ra8 (rook a7→a8).
3. Best move: Qxa8 — queen b8→a8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxb5 (queen b4→b5, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Nd6 — knight c8→d6.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Nc6.

Position data

FEN: 1qn1kr2/5p1p/4pP2/1b1pn1P1/1Q2P2P/1P2B3/1KP5/R6R w - - 0 28

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