Chess Puzzle #1r76e — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rook c1; bishops b5/e3; knight d4; pawns a4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a5; rook c8; bishops b7/f6; pawns c5/e5/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: cxd4 — pawn c5→d4, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen c4→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxc8 (bishop b7→c8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c1→c8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen a5→d8).
4. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook c8→d8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Qxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/1b3ppp/5b2/qBp1p3/P1QN4/4B3/5PPP/2R3K1 b - - 0 25

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