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

Position

White: king h2; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; bishop g4; knight c3; pawns a3/b2/e3/e5/f4/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks c8/f8; bishop f5; knight e6; pawns a6/b7/d5/e4/g5/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd5 — queen d1→d5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxc3 — rook c8→c3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxd8 (queen d5→d8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rc2+ — rook c3→c2, gives check. Opponent replies Kg3 (king h2→g3).
4. Best move: Nxd8 — knight e6→d8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, intermezzo, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2rq1rk1/1p6/p3n2p/3pPbp1/4pPB1/P1N1P2P/1P5K/R2Q1R2 w - - 2 21

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