Chess Puzzle #41Owt — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c5; rooks c1/e1; bishop e2; knight f3; pawns a3/b2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e4; rooks c8/f8; bishop b7; knight e7; pawns a6/d4/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen c5→d4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxc1 — rook c8→c1, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc1 (rook e1→c1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxe2 — queen e4→e2, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Rxc1 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/1b2nppp/p7/2Q5/3pq3/P4N2/1P2BPPP/2R1R1K1 w - - 2 21

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