Chess Puzzle #9Keb4 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen c2; rooks d5/f1; bishop e1; knight c4; pawns a2/b2/f4/f5/h3. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks e7/e8; bishop g7; pawns a7/c5/d6/f7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd6 — rook d5→d6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Re2+ — rook e7→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Rf2 (rook f1→f2).
3. Best move: Rxc2 — rook e2→c2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move is Re2+.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/p3rpbp/3p1q2/2pR1P2/2N2P2/7P/PPQ4K/4BR2 w - - 1 24

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