Chess Puzzle #3RRHs — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b2; queen g5; rooks d1/h1; knight c3; pawns b3/c2/d5/f2/g3/h6. Black: king h8; queen c4; rooks b7/f8; bishop c8; pawns a4/c5/d6/e5/f5/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rh4 — rook h1→h4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: a3+ — pawn a4→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Ka2 (king b2→a2).
3. Best move: Qxc3 — queen c4→c3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, master, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is a3+.

Position data

FEN: 2b2r1k/1r5p/3p3P/2pPppQ1/p1q5/1PN3P1/1KP2P2/3R3R w - - 1 29

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