Chess Puzzle #6obpQ — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen d4; rooks c1/c3; knight b3; pawns e5/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen a3; rooks c7/c8; pawns c2/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: R1xc2 — rook c1→c2, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxc3 — rook c7→c3, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc3 (rook c2→c3, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qb2+ — queen a3→b2, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move Rxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/2r2ppp/4p3/3pP3/3Q2P1/qNR4P/2p4K/2R5 w - - 2 36

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