Chess Puzzle #DucxJ — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; queen e2; rooks c4/c7; pawns a4/b3/d4/e5/f6/g3. Black: king b6; queen d5; rook g8; bishop f4; knight b4; pawns a5/e6/f7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: g4 — pawn g3→g4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rh8 — rook g8→h8. Opponent replies Rxb4+ (rook c4→b4, captures knight, gives check).
3. Best move: axb4 — pawn a5→b4, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, quiet move, short. The key move is Rh8.

Position data

FEN: 6r1/2R2p2/1k2pP2/p2qP3/PnRP1b2/1P4P1/4QK2/8 w - - 1 61

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