Chess Puzzle #3QBLz — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rooks a1/f1; bishop d6; pawns a3/b2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d3; rooks d8/h8; bishop g7; knight e7; pawns a6/b5/d4/e5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd7 — rook d8→d7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rac1 — rook a1→c1. Opponent replies Rxd6 (rook d7→d6, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Qxd6 — queen e6→d6, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, quiet move, short. The key move is Rac1.

Position data

FEN: 3rk2r/4n1bp/p2BQ1p1/1p2p3/3pP3/P2q4/1P3PPP/R4RK1 b k - 0 21

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