Chess Puzzle #1do34 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen f4; rooks d1/h1; knight c3; pawns a4/b3/c2/d4/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a3; rook b8; bishop f5; knight f6; pawns a6/a7/c5/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: e4 — pawn e3→e4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxb3+ — rook b8→b3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies cxb3 (pawn c2→b3, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxb3+ — queen a3→b3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ka1 (king b1→a1).
4. Best move: Qxc3+ — queen b3→c3, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxb3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/p4ppp/p3pn2/2pp1b2/P2P1Q2/qPN1P2P/2P2PP1/1K1R3R w - - 0 17

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