Chess Puzzle #1fcvB — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen a6; rooks d1/e1; pawns b2/b3/c2. Black: king c7; queen g2; rooks a8/e8; pawns a7/b6/c6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: c5 — pawn c6→c5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe8 — rook e1→e8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxa7+ — queen a6→a7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qb7 (queen g2→b7).
4. Best move: Rd7+ — rook d1→d7, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd7 (king c7→d7, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qxb7+ — queen a7→b7, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, deflection, endgame, very long. The key move Qxa7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r3/p1k2p2/Qpp3p1/8/8/1P6/1PP3q1/2KRR3 b - - 1 28

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