Chess Puzzle #qC56P — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks d7/f1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c5; rooks e3/f8; pawns a6/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd5 — rook d7→d5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qxc3 — queen c5→c3, captures knight. Opponent replies bxc3 (pawn b2→c3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxe2 — rook e3→e2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/1ppR1ppp/p7/2q5/8/2N1r2P/PPP1Q1P1/5RK1 w - - 0 18

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