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

Position

White: king h2; queen a5; rooks g1/g3; bishop e5; pawns a2/b3/c4/f4/h4. Black: king h7; queen b7; rooks d8/g8; bishop e4; pawns a6/c5/f5/g6/h5. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc5 — queen a5→c5, captures pawn. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rd2+ — rook d8→d2, gives check. Opponent replies Kh3 (king h2→h3).
3. Best move: Bf3 — bishop e4→f3. Opponent replies Qc7+ (queen c5→c7, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxc7 — queen b7→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, quiet move. The key move is Rd2+.

Position data

FEN: 3r2r1/1q5k/p5p1/Q1p1Bp1p/2P1bP1P/1P4R1/P6K/6R1 w - - 4 37

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