Chess Puzzle #9gkBT — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen d7; rooks d1/h1; bishop f1; knight f4; pawns a3/e4/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks b2/c8; knight a4; pawns a7/b7/c4/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ka1 — king b1→a1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rb1+ — rook b2→b1, gives check. Opponent replies Rxb1 (rook d1→b1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxd7 — queen c6→d7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, master, middlegame, short. The key move is Rb1+.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/pp1Q1ppp/2q5/8/n1p1PN2/P4P2/1r4PP/1K1R1B1R w - - 0 26

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