Chess Puzzle #3YK94 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks c1/e1; bishops b3/d4; knight a4; pawns a2/b2/c4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks c8/e8; bishops b7/e7; knight d7; pawns a6/d5/e5/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: cxd5 — pawn c4→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxc1 — queen c7→c1, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc1 (rook e1→c1, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxc1+ — rook c8→c1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king g1→g2).
4. Best move: exd4 — pawn e5→d4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Rxc1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r1r1k1/1bqnbppp/p7/3pp3/N1PB4/1B4P1/PP2QP1P/2R1R1K1 w - - 0 21

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