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

Position

White: king e1; queen e2; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/f1; knights e4/f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen e7; rooks d8/h8; bishops f5/f8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nc3 — knight e4→c3. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Nb4 — knight c6→b4. Opponent replies Be3 (bishop c1→e3).
3. Best move: Nxc2+ — knight b4→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc2 (queen e2→c2, captures knight).
4. Best move: Bxc2 — bishop f5→c2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, opening, pin. The key move Nxc2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr1b1r/ppp1qppp/2n5/5b2/4N3/5N2/PPP1QPPP/R1B1KB1R w KQ - 1 10

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