Chess Puzzle #2XnbZ — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen c3; rooks a1/c1; bishops b2/g2; pawns b3/e5/f4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks c8/d8; bishops b5/g7; pawns a6/c4/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: cxb3 — pawn c4→b3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc8 — queen c3→c8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook d8→c8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c1→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop g7→f8).
4. Best move: Ba3 — bishop b2→a3.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2rr2k1/5pbp/pq2p1p1/1b2P3/2p2P2/1PQ3P1/1B4BP/R1R4K b - - 3 24

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