Chess Puzzle #1AsJd — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/a5; bishops c4/d6; pawns c3/d4/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen c6; rooks a8/h8; bishop f3; knights d7/f4; pawns e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxg2 — bishop f3→g2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxa8+ — rook a5→a8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxa8 (queen c6→a8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxa8+ — rook a1→a8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, master, middlegame, short. The key move Rxa8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/3n1ppp/2qBp3/R3P3/2BP1n2/2P2b2/2Q2PPP/R5K1 b kq - 0 18

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