Exercise #8

Solution

1… Nc4 takes advantage of the pinned pawn on b3 and in effect traps the white queen.

Here’s the variations that show how black wins material:

• 1… Nc4 bxc4 2. Qxa3 or
• 1… Nc4 2. Bd3 Nxa3 3. Rxc3 Rxc3 or
• 1… Nc4 2. Re3 Nxa3 3. Rxc3 Rxc3
• 1… Nc4 2.Qxf8+ Kxf8 3.Bb1 Qa5 4.bxc4 bxc4

Note that 1… Nc4 clears the b6-square, which means the black pawn on a6 is now defended by the rook on c6.

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