Chess Puzzle #363fT — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen c2; rooks c1/e3; bishop b1; knights e5/f3; pawns a3/b2/d4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops b6/h5; knight g5; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc8 — rook a8→c8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc8 — queen c2→c8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxc8 (queen d8→c8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxc8 — rook c1→c8, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook f8→c8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Nxg5 — knight f3→g5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Qxc8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/pp4pp/1b2p3/3pN1nb/3P4/P3RNP1/1PQ2PKP/1BR5 b - - 4 24

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