Chess Puzzle #3mX0V — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f3; rooks c1/e2; bishop d2; knight e5; pawns a3/b4/f4/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen c2; rooks a8/c8; bishop a7; knight c6; pawns a6/b5/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nd4 — knight c6→d4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc2 — rook c1→c2, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxf3 (knight d4→f3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c2→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook a8→c8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Nxf3 — knight e5→f3, captures knight.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r1r3k1/b4pp1/p1n1p2p/1p1pN3/1P3PP1/P4Q2/2qBR2P/2R4K b - - 3 25

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