Chess Puzzle #rIIeh — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen e2; rooks b1/f1; bishop h2; knight e4; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/g2/h3. Black: king c8; queen d7; rooks f8/h8; bishop e5; knight g6; pawns a7/b7/c5/d6/e7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc5 — knight e4→c5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: dxc5 — pawn d6→c5, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxe5 (bishop h2→e5, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qe6 — queen d7→e6. Opponent replies Rbe1 (rook b1→e1).
4. Best move: Nxe5 — knight g6→e5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, intermezzo, long, middlegame. The key move dxc5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2k2r1r/pp1qp2p/3p2n1/2p1b3/4N3/P2P3P/1PP1Q1PB/1R3R1K w - - 7 22

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