Chess Puzzle #1Riee — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; rooks c1/f1; knight e4; pawns a4/d5/e3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; rooks a8/b6; bishop g7; pawns d6/e7/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxa4 — rook a8→a4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c1→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop g7→f8).
3. Best move: Ng5 — knight e4→g5.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, short. The key move is Rc8+.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/4ppbp/1r1p2p1/3P4/P3N3/4P3/6PP/2R2RK1 b - - 2 22

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