Chess Puzzle #8K1lD — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen a6; rooks c1/f1; knight d2; pawns a3/c6/d5/e3/f2/g2. Black: king c8; queen e8; rooks d8/h8; bishops a8/b6; knight f6; pawns a7/e6/g4/h4. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kb8 — king c8→b8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: c7+ — pawn c6→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Bxc7 (bishop b6→c7, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Rxc7 — rook c1→c7, captures bishop. Opponent replies Kxc7 (king b8→c7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rc1+ — rook f1→c1, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, attraction, crushing, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move is c7+.

Position data

FEN: b1krq2r/p7/QbP1pn2/3P4/6pp/P3P3/3N1PP1/2R2R1K b - - 4 27

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