Chess Puzzle #is2Cu — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen d3; rooks a1/h1; bishop c4; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/d5/e5/f2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c5; rooks a8/h4; bishop c8; pawns a7/b7/c7/d7/g3/g5/g7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne4 — knight c3→e4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxe4 — rook h4→e4, captures knight. Opponent replies hxg3 (pawn h2→g3, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qxc4 — queen c5→c4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxc4 (queen d3→c4, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxc4 — rook e4→c4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Rxe4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r1b1k3/pppp2p1/8/2qPP1p1/2B4r/2NQ2p1/PP3P1P/R4K1R w q - 0 19

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