Chess Puzzle #0ZzRX — Beginner, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f5; rook e1; bishop b4; knight h5; pawns a2/d4/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c1; rook c8; bishop b5; knight g6; pawns a7/b7/d5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc1 — rook e1→c1, captures queen. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxc1+ — rook c8→c1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kf2 (king g1→f2).
3. Best move: Rf1+ — rook c1→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Ke3 (king f2→e3).
4. Best move: Rxf5 — rook f1→f5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, skewer. The key move Rxc1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/pp3ppp/6n1/1b1pPQ1N/1B1P4/8/P5PP/2q1R1K1 w - - 1 27

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