Chess Puzzle #y3OKt — Master, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king b1; queen e6; rooks d1/h1; bishop c1; pawns a2/b3/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen c5; rooks d8/e8; bishop f6; pawns a7/b7/d4/d6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qg4 — queen e6→g4. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rc8 — rook d8→c8. Opponent replies Rd2 (rook d1→d2).
3. Best move: Qc3 — queen c5→c3. Opponent replies Bb2 (bishop c1→b2).
4. Best move: Qxd2 — queen c3→d2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, quiet move. The key move is Rc8.

Position data

FEN: 1k1rr3/pp4pp/3pQb2/2q5/3p4/1P6/P1P2PPP/1KBR3R w - - 1 21

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