Chess Puzzle #ccXv8 — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c7; rooks a1/f1; bishop c4; pawns a2/c2/c3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f6; rooks c8/f8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb7 — queen c7→b7, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Na5 — knight c6→a5. Opponent replies Qxa7 (queen b7→a7, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Nxc4 — knight a5→c4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Na5.

Position data

FEN: 2r2r1k/ppQ4p/2n2qp1/8/2BP4/2P5/P1P2PPP/R4RK1 w - - 1 17

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