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

Position

White: king g1; queen a2; rooks c1/c2; bishop e2; pawns b3/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b4; rooks a8/b8; knight d7; pawns a3/d5/e6/f5/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxb3 — queen b4→b3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c2→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook b8→c8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c1→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook a8→c8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxb3 — queen a2→b3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Rxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rr4k1/3n2pp/4p3/3p1p2/1q1P4/pP2P3/Q1R1BPPP/2R3K1 b - - 0 24

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