Chess Puzzle #34mE7 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b5; rook d5; bishop a3; knight f3; pawns a2/b3/c2/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen e7; rook h8; bishops b7/f8; knight f5; pawns a7/c5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: a6 — pawn a7→a6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb6 — queen b5→b6. Opponent replies Kc8 (king b8→c8).
3. Best move: Rxc5+ — rook d5→c5, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc5 (queen e7→c5, captures rook).
4. Best move: Bxc5 — bishop a3→c5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, long, middlegame, pin, queenside attack. The key move Rxc5+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k3b1r/pb2qpp1/7p/1QpRPn2/8/BP3N2/P1P2PPP/6K1 b - - 3 21

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