Chess Puzzle #10bcy — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen e6; rook c6; pawns a2/c2/c3/d4/e5/h2. Black: king h7; queen b7; rook b2; pawns a7/d5/g5/g7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd5 — queen e6→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxc2+ — rook b2→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf3 (king g2→f3).
3. Best move: Rxc3+ — rook c2→c3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc3 (rook c6→c3, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxd5+ — queen b7→d5, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move Rxc2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/pq4pk/2R1Q3/3pP1p1/3P4/2P5/PrP3KP/8 w - - 5 32

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