Chess Puzzle #7xUFK — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen h1; rook c6; knight g4; pawns d4/e3/f2/g3/h6. Black: king f8; queen b2; rook b7; knight e4; pawns b4/d5/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe2 — queen b2→e2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc1 — queen h1→c1. Opponent replies Qxg4 (queen e2→g4, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c6→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
4. Best move: Rc7+ — rook c8→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Kf6 (king e7→f6).
5. Best move: Rxb7 — rook c7→b7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

endgame, equality, master, quiet move, sacrifice, very long. The key move is Qc1.

Position data

FEN: 5k2/1r3p1p/2R1p1pP/3p4/1p1Pn1N1/4P1P1/1q3PK1/7Q b - - 2 35

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