Chess Puzzle #4hIEs — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks b1/b7; pawns a3/c5/d4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen g6; rooks f7/f8; pawns a6/c6/d5/e3/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf7 — rook b7→f7, captures rook. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxb1+ — queen g6→b1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg2 (king g1→g2).
3. Best move: Rxf7 — rook f8→f7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, hanging piece, intermezzo, master, short. The key move Qxb1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1R3rpp/p1p3q1/2Pp4/3P4/P3pQP1/5P1P/1R4K1 w - - 0 26

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