Chess Puzzle #X2Fwe — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a6; rooks c1/e1; bishop h4; knights e4/f3; pawns a2/b3/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b8; rooks a8/c8; bishop d6; knights d5/f6; pawns a7/b6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd6 — knight e4→d6, captures bishop. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxc1 — rook c8→c1, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc1 (rook e1→c1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxd6 — queen b8→d6, captures knight. Opponent replies Rc8+ (rook c1→c8, gives check).
4. Best move: Rxc8 — rook a8→c8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxc8+ (queen a6→c8, captures rook, gives check).
5. Best move: Qf8 — queen d6→f8.

Tactical themes

equality, intermezzo, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxc1 wins material.

Position data

FEN: rqr3k1/p4ppp/Qp1bpn2/3n4/3PN2B/1P3N2/P4PPP/2R1R1K1 w - - 3 20

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