Chess Puzzle #0SSiy — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen e3; rooks d2/g1; knight b1; pawns b2/d4/f4/h7. Black: king h8; queen b3; rooks c7/c8; bishop c3; pawns a6/d5/e6/f7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: bxc3 — pawn b2→c3, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxc3+ — rook c7→c3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nxc3 (knight b1→c3, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxc3+ — rook c8→c3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc3 (queen e3→c3, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxc3+ — queen b3→c3, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Rxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r4k/2r2p1P/p3p2p/3p4/3P1P2/1qb1Q3/1P1R4/1NK3R1 w - - 0 31

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