Chess Puzzle #n9xxf — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen d2; rooks g1/h1; bishops e2/e3; knights c3/h7; pawns a2/c4/d5/e4/f2. Black: king g8; queen f7; rooks a8/f8; bishops a4/g7; knights b4/c5; pawns b2/b7/c7/d6/e5/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxf8 — knight h7→f8, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Bc2+ — bishop a4→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Kxb2 (king b1→b2, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Nxe4 — knight c5→e4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxc2 (queen d2→c2, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Nxc2 — knight b4→c2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame, queenside attack. The key move is Bc2+.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/1pp2qbN/3p2p1/2nPp3/bnP1P3/2N1B3/Pp1QBP2/1K4RR w - - 6 21

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