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

Position

White: king g2; queen d3; rooks a3/b2; bishop e4; pawns c5/e5/f4/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen a4; rooks b4/d8; knight e7; pawns b5/d4/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxa4 — rook a3→a4, captures queen. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxb2+ — rook b4→b2, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg1 (king g2→g1).
3. Best move: bxa4 — pawn b5→a4, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, hanging piece, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move Rxb2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/4np1p/4p1p1/1pP1P3/qr1pBPP1/R2Q3P/1R4K1/8 w - - 0 38

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