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

Position

White: king g1; queen b2; rooks d1/g7; pawns a2/b3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c2; rooks d7/d8; pawns b5/d3/e4/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxg7 — rook d7→g7, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc2 — queen b2→c2, captures queen. Opponent replies dxc2 (pawn d3→c2, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
4. Best move: Rc8 — rook d8→c8. Opponent replies c1=Q+ (pawn c2→c1, promotes to queen, gives check).
5. Best move: Rxc1 — rook c8→c1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, very long. The key move Rxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/3r2Rp/8/1p6/4p3/1P1p3P/PQq2PP1/3R2K1 b - - 0 40

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