Chess Puzzle #44XPM — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a7; rooks b1/f1; pawns a2/g2/h3. Black: king d7; queen c6; rooks d8/g7; knight d4; pawns b7/c5/e4/h5. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rdg8 — rook d8→g8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxb7+ — rook b1→b7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd6 (king d7→d6).
3. Best move: Rxg7 — rook b7→g7, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxg7 (rook g8→g7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxg7 — queen a7→g7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 3r4/Qp1k2r1/2q5/2p4p/3np3/7P/P5P1/1R3RK1 b - - 5 34

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