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

Position

White: king b1; queen d3; rook c1; bishop f3; knight c3; pawns b2/d4/e3/f2/g3/h3. Black: king a7; queen b6; rook c8; bishops b4/e6; pawns a5/b3/d5/f5/f7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd5 — knight c3→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxc1+ — rook c8→c1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc1 (king b1→c1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qc6+ — queen b6→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Nc3 (knight d5→c3).
4. Best move: Qxf3 — queen c6→f3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Rxc1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r5/k4p1p/1q2b3/p2p1p2/1b1P4/1pNQPBPP/1P3P2/1KR5 w - - 4 38

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