Chess Puzzle #57YGC — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks c1/f1; knight e2; pawns a2/b4/c3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks b8/c8; bishop f6; pawns a7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxb4 — rook b8→b4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: cxb4 — pawn c3→b4, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc2 (rook c8→c2, captures queen).
3. Best move: bxa5 — pawn b4→a5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move cxb4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1rr3k1/p4ppp/4pb2/q2p4/1P6/2P4P/P1Q1NPP1/2R2RK1 b - - 0 22

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