Chess Puzzle #5Mauk — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c4; rook d5; knights e2/g5; pawns b3/e3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen a2; rooks a8/e8; bishop f6; pawns a7/b7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rac8 — rook a8→c8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc5 — rook d5→c5. Opponent replies Bxg5 (bishop f6→g5, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rxc8 — rook c5→c8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook e8→c8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen c4→c8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame. The key move Qxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r1k1/pp3p1p/5bp1/3R2N1/2Q5/1P2P1P1/q3NP1P/6K1 b - - 0 22

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