Chess Puzzle #0sMtQ — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e1; rook c5; bishop f2; knight f3; pawns d4/e5/f4/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen b1; rook b3; knights e3/f5; pawns d5/e6/f7/g7/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe4 — queen b1→e4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c5→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
3. Best move: Ng5+ — knight f3→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg6 (king h7→g6).
4. Best move: Nxe4 — knight g5→e4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, long, master, middlegame. The key move is Rc8+.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/5pp1/4p3/2RpPn1p/3P1P2/1r2nNPP/5B2/1q2Q1K1 b - - 4 33

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