Chess Puzzle #hp5Hn — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rooks a1/f1; bishop c1; knights b5/e5; pawns a3/b2/e2/f2/g3/h2. Black: king e8; queen h7; rooks c8/h8; bishop c5; knights c6/g8; pawns a6/b7/d4/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc6 — knight e5→c6, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: axb5 — pawn a6→b5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxb5 (queen a4→b5, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Rxc6 — rook c8→c6, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, intermezzo, opening, short. The key move axb5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r1k1nr/1p3ppq/p1n4p/1Nb1N3/Q2p4/P5P1/1P2PP1P/R1B2RK1 w k - 0 16

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