Chess Puzzle #XVtR3 — Advanced, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; queen e4; rooks g1/h1; bishop d6; knights a7/d4; pawns a2/b2/c3/e5/f4. Black: king g8; queen f2; rooks c4/e8; knights a5/d5; pawns b6/d7/e6/f7/g6/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe2 — queen e4→e2. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxd4+ — rook c4→d4, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies cxd4 (pawn c3→d4, captures rook).
3. Best move: Nc4+ — knight a5→c4, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, pin, sacrifice, short. The key move Rxd4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/N2p1p1p/1p1Bp1p1/n2nP3/2rNQP2/2P5/PP1K1q2/6RR w - - 2 25

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