Chess Puzzle #7ZLzo — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen d2; rooks b1/f1; knights c3/f3; pawns a3/b2/d5/e4/f2/g4/h3. Black: king g7; queen c4; rooks a8/b8; knights d7/f6; pawns c5/d6/e7/f7/g6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe2 — queen d2→e2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxc3+ — queen c4→c3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies bxc3 (pawn b2→c3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxb1+ — rook b8→b1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kd2 (king e1→d2).
4. Best move: Rb2+ — rook b1→b2, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Qxc3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rr6/3nppk1/3p1np1/2pP4/2q1P1P1/P1N2N1P/1P1Q1P2/1R2KR2 w - - 1 19

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