Chess Puzzle #KXbF4 — Intermediate, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen f2; rooks c1/f1; knight d6; pawns c2/d3/e5/f4/h3. Black: king d7; queen b2; rooks c3/f8; pawns a6/b4/d4/e6/g6/h5. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen f2→d4, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxc2+ — rook c3→c2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc2 (rook c1→c2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxd4 — queen b2→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5r2/3k4/p2Np1p1/4P2p/1p1p1P2/2rP3P/1qP2Q1K/2R2R2 w - - 0 34

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