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

Position

White: king a1; rooks c1/d1; knight g6; pawns a2/e3/f2/g4. Black: king g8; queen d7; knight g5; pawns a7/d3/e4/f6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe8 — queen d7→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc8 — rook c1→c8. Opponent replies Qxc8 (queen e8→c8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Ne7+ — knight g6→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
4. Best move: Nxc8 — knight e7→c8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, endgame, fork, long, master, pin, sacrifice. The key move is Rc8.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/p2q2p1/5pNp/6n1/4p1P1/3pP3/P4P2/K1RR4 b - - 1 39

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