Chess Puzzle #5Clnr — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; rooks c1/f1; bishop a1; knight f3; pawns b4/c3/e3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; rooks a2/c8; bishops e4/f8; pawns b5/e5/f5/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxb4 — bishop f8→b4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: cxb4 — pawn c3→b4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxc1 (rook c8→c1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxc1 — rook f1→c1, captures rook. Opponent replies Bxf3 (bishop e4→f3, captures knight).
4. Best move: gxf3 — pawn g2→f3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, hanging piece, long, middlegame. The key move cxb4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r2bk1/7p/6p1/1p2pp2/1P2b3/2P1PN2/r5PP/B1R2RK1 b - - 7 27

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