Chess Puzzle #t42Xv — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e8; rooks b1/f1; knight c3; pawns a4/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen b4; rooks b2/c4; bishop g7; pawns a5/b7/e5/g6/h6. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd5 — knight c3→d5. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rxb1 — rook b2→b1, captures rook. Opponent replies Nxb4 (knight d5→b4, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rcc1 — rook c4→c1. Opponent replies h4 (pawn h2→h4).
4. Best move: Rxf1+ — rook c1→f1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, master, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxf1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4Q3/1p4bk/6pp/p3p3/Pqr1P3/2N5/1r3PPP/1R3RK1 w - - 0 28

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