Chess Puzzle #t2fxI — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/f1; knight c6; pawns b2/b3/c2/g2/g3/h2. Black: king g7; queen d4; rooks b8/h8; bishop g4; knight f6; pawns a6/c5/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen d2→d4, captures queen. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: cxd4 — pawn c5→d4, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxb8 (knight c6→b8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxb8 — rook h8→b8, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move cxd4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r5r/5pk1/p1N2n1p/2p3p1/3q2b1/1P4P1/1PPQ2PP/R4RK1 w - - 0 24

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