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

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks g1/h1; bishop h5; pawns a2/b2/c2/e4/f5/h4. Black: king g7; queen d8; rooks c8/f8; bishop a4; pawns a5/b4/d5/d6/f7/g6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: fxg6 — pawn f5→g6, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxc2+ — rook c8→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc2 (queen d2→c2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Bxc2 — bishop a4→c2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, middlegame, short. The key move Rxc2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rq1r2/5pk1/3p2p1/p2p1P1B/bp2P2P/8/PPPQ4/2K3RR w - - 1 21

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