Chess Puzzle #rsBx9 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen h3; rooks a1/h2; bishop c2; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e3/f3/g3. Black: king f7; queen e7; rooks a8/h8; bishop d5; knight f6; pawns a7/b6/c4/e6/f5/g7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qg2 — queen h3→g2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ng4 — knight f6→g4. Opponent replies Rxh8 (rook h2→h8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Nxe3 — knight g4→e3, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qe2 (queen g2→e2).
4. Best move: Nxc2+ — knight e3→c2, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Nxc2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r6r/p3qkp1/1p2pn2/3b1p2/2pP4/2P1PPPQ/PPBN3R/R3K3 w Q - 1 23

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