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

Position

White: king c1; queen d5; rooks d1/h1; knight g1; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen b6; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knight b8; pawns a4/b5/f6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa8 — queen d5→a8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nc6 — knight b8→c6. Opponent replies Kb1 (king c1→b1).
3. Best move: Bg7 — bishop f8→g7. Opponent replies Qxh8 (queen a8→h8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Bxh8 — bishop g7→h8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, quiet move, trapped piece. The key move is Nc6.

Position data

FEN: rn3b1r/4k3/1q3p2/1p1Q3p/p3P3/8/PPP3PP/2KR2NR w - - 0 20

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