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

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks c1/e1; bishop b2; knight f1; pawns a2/b3/e5/f2/g2. Black: king f7; queen c6; rooks a8/h5; bishop c5; pawns b5/d7/e6/f5/g4/g7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: b4 — pawn b3→b4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rah8 — rook a8→h8. Opponent replies Ng3 (knight f1→g3).
3. Best move: Rh2 — rook h5→h2. Opponent replies Qxd7+ (queen d1→d7, captures pawn, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxd7 — queen c6→d7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, quiet move. The key move is Rah8.

Position data

FEN: r7/3p1kp1/2q1p3/1pb1Pp1r/6p1/1P6/PB3PP1/2RQRNK1 w - - 4 21

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