Chess Puzzle #5sy4C — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks b1/c1; bishop h6; pawns a2/b3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king c8; queen c7; rook f7; bishops b8/g4; knights c6/f6; pawns d5/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne4 — knight f6→e4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc6 — rook c1→c6, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxc6 (queen c7→c6, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rc1 — rook b1→c1. Opponent replies Kb7 (king c8→b7).
4. Best move: Rxc6 — rook c1→c6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, clearance, equality, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The key move Rxc6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 1bk5/2q2r1p/2n2n1B/3p4/6b1/1P2Q1P1/P4P1P/1RR3K1 b - - 2 31

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