Chess Puzzle #1hxCf — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen e6; rooks a1/h1; bishop h4; pawns a2/b2/b3/e3/f2/f3/h3. Black: king h8; queen a5; rooks c3/f8; bishop e7; knight f6; pawns a7/b5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe7 — queen e6→e7, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxe3+ — rook c3→e3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kf1 (king e1→f1).
3. Best move: Rxe7 — rook e3→e7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, double check, middlegame, short. The key move Rxe3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5r1k/p3b1pp/4Qn2/qp6/7B/1Pr1PP1P/PP3P2/R3K2R w KQ - 0 20

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