Chess Puzzle #5EZqR — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen d7; rooks d2/h2; bishop b1; pawns b2/c3/e5/f4/g4. Black: king g8; queen a1; rooks b3/b8; bishop a6; pawns a4/c6/f7/g6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: e6 — pawn e5→e6. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxc3+ — rook b3→c3, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rc2 (rook d2→c2).
3. Best move: Qxb2+ — queen a1→b2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king c1→d2).
4. Best move: Rd3+ — rook c3→d3, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd3 (queen d7→d3, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qb4+ — queen b2→b4, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/3Q1p2/b1p3p1/4P3/p4PP1/1rP5/1P1R3R/qBK5 w - - 0 27

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