Chess Puzzle #3hkpR — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; rook c1; bishops e2/e3; knight d2; pawns b4/d5/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g7; rook c8; bishops b7/e7; knight c4; pawns b5/d6/e5/f5/g6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe3 — knight c4→e3, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc8 — rook c1→c8, captures rook. Opponent replies Bxc8 (bishop b7→c8, captures rook).
3. Best move: fxe3 — pawn f2→e3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

equality, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move Rxc8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r5/1b2b1k1/3p2pp/1p1Ppp2/1Pn1P3/4B2P/3NBPP1/2R3K1 b - - 1 33

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