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

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rooks c1/e1; bishop e2; knight f3; pawns a3/b2/d3/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks c7/f8; bishop h5; knights a5/f6; pawns a6/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa5 — queen a4→a5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxc1 — rook c7→c1, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxd8 (queen a5→d8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxe1+ — rook c1→e1, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Nxe1 (knight f3→e1, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rxd8 — rook f8→d8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, intermezzo, long, middlegame. The key move Rxe1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3q1rk1/2r2pp1/p3pn1p/n6b/Q3P3/P2P1N1P/1P2BPP1/2R1R1K1 w - - 0 22

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