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

Position

White: king f2; queen a4; rooks a1/d1; bishop c1; knight f1; pawns a3/d4/e3/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen h4; rook e8; bishop g6; knights c6/d5; pawns b7/c7/f7/g7/h5. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kg1 — king f2→g1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nc3 — knight d5→c3. Opponent replies Qb3 (queen a4→b3).
3. Best move: Ne2+ — knight c3→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh1 (king g1→h1).
4. Best move: Qf2 — queen h4→f2.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move is Nc3.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/1pp2pp1/2n3b1/3n3p/Q2P3q/P3PP2/5KPP/R1BR1N2 w - - 2 20

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