Chess Puzzle #4is1G — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks c1/d2; pawns c6/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e6; rooks b6/e5; bishop d3; pawns a7/e4/f7/g5/h5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd5 — rook e5→d5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: c7 — pawn c6→c7. Opponent replies Rxd4 (rook d5→d4, captures queen).
3. Best move: c8=Q+ — pawn c7→c8, promotes to queen, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc8 (queen e6→c8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c1→c8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
5. Best move: exd4 — pawn e3→d4, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, equality, middlegame, promotion, very long. The key move Rxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/p4p2/1rP1q3/4r1pp/3Qp3/3bP2P/3R1PP1/2R3K1 b - - 2 34

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