Chess Puzzle #0sOSc — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d7; rooks c1/c2; bishop b3; pawns a2/d5/f2/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen e5; rooks b8/f8; knight a6; pawns a7/b7/c7/e4/f5/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: f4 — pawn f5→f4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc7 — rook c2→c7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nxc7 (knight a6→c7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxc7 — rook c1→c7, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxc7 (queen e5→c7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxc7 — queen d7→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Rxc7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1r3r1k/pppQ3p/n7/3Pqp2/4p3/1B4P1/P1R2P1P/2R3K1 b - - 3 27

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