Chess Puzzle #0Safj — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen c7; rook a6; pawns c2/f4/g2/h3. Black: king c4; queen d4; rooks d8/h8; knight c5; pawns d5/e6/h7. Black is ahead by 7 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc8 — rook d8→c8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ra4+ — rook a6→a4, gives check. Opponent replies Kb5 (king c4→b5).
3. Best move: Qa5+ — queen c7→a5, gives check. Opponent replies Kc6 (king b5→c6).
4. Best move: Rxd4 — rook a4→d4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, long, pin. The key move is Ra4+.

Position data

FEN: 3r3r/2Q4p/R3p3/2np4/2kq1P2/7P/2P3PK/8 b - - 0 31

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