Chess Puzzle #3UMFh — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b7; rooks c1/c2; bishop g2; pawns a2/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen e5; rook c4; bishop e6; knight c3; pawns a5/d5/f5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qb2 — queen b7→b2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Ne2+ — knight c3→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe2 (rook c2→e2, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxb2 — queen e5→b2, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxb2 (rook e2→b2, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxc1+ — rook c4→c1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, capturing the defender, discovered attack, long, middlegame. The key move Rxc1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/1Q4pp/4b3/p2pqp2/2r5/2n1P1P1/P1R2PBP/2R3K1 w - - 2 26

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