Chess Puzzle #3xJ8g — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d1; queen b4; rook c5; bishops d2/f3; pawns a3/d3/h3. Black: king b8; queen c7; rook f8; bishop e3; knight a7; pawns b7/d4/f4/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxd2 — bishop e3→d2, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc7 — rook c5→c7, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxb4 (bishop d2→b4, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxb7+ — rook c7→b7, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Rxb7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k3r2/npq4p/6p1/2R5/1Q1p1p2/P2PbB1P/3B4/3K4 b - - 5 35

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