Chess Puzzle #COLJn — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; queen c4; rooks a2/b1; knight c5; pawns b5/c3/d4/f2/f3/h5. Black: king h8; queen e7; rooks a5/e8; bishop f8; pawns a3/c7/f4/f5/g7/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kc2 — king d2→c2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qe2+ — queen e7→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe2 (queen c4→e2, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxe2+ — rook e8→e2, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kb3 (king c2→b3).
4. Best move: Rxb5+ — rook a5→b5, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, interference, long, middlegame. The key move Rxe2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4rb1k/2p1q1p1/7p/rPN2p1P/2QP1p2/p1P2P2/R2K1P2/1R6 w - - 2 33

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