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

Position

White: king b2; queen d1; rooks c1/f1; knight c3; pawns a2/b3/d4/g4. Black: king g7; queen h2; rook a8; bishops a5/f3; pawns a7/b7/f6/f7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc2 — queen d1→c2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Bxc3+ — bishop a5→c3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc3 (king b2→c3, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Rc8+ — rook a8→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Kb2 (king c3→b2).
4. Best move: Rxc2+ — rook c8→c2, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, long, middlegame, pin, skewer. The key move Bxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r7/pp3pkp/5p2/b7/3P2P1/1PN2b2/PK5q/2RQ1R2 w - - 2 31

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