Chess Puzzle #n2ZRI — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a3; queen e3; rooks d1/h1; knight f3; pawns c2/e4/g6/h6. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks a8/f8; knight c5; pawns a5/d6/e6/g7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc5 — queen e3→c5, captures knight. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxf3+ — rook f8→f3, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies c3 (pawn c2→c3).
3. Best move: Rc8 — rook a8→c8.

Tactical themes

crushing, hanging piece, middlegame, short. The key move Rxf3+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/3q2p1/3pp1PP/p1n5/4P3/K3QN2/2P5/3R3R w - - 1 27

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