Chess Puzzle #sH3Bw — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen d5; rooks d1/h1; bishop c3; pawns a3/b2/c2/e4/f2/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks c8/f8; knight c4; pawns a7/b7/d6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: h5 — pawn h4→h5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nxb2 — knight c4→b2, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qd4 (queen d5→d4).
3. Best move: Qxc3 — queen c7→c3, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxc3 (queen d4→c3, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxc3 — rook c8→c3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, equality, long, middlegame. The key move Nxb2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/ppq2ppp/3p4/3Q4/2n1P2P/P1B5/1PP2PP1/2KR3R w - - 5 21

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