Chess Puzzle #8vavt — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c5; rooks c1/c7; pawns a4/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b2; rooks a8/f8; pawns d5/e4/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxa4 — rook a8→a4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc8 — rook c7→c8. Opponent replies Qxc1+ (queen b2→c1, captures rook, gives check).
3. Best move: Qxc1 — queen c5→c1, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook f8→c8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen c1→c8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move Qxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/2R2pp1/7p/2Qp4/P2Pp3/7P/1q3PP1/2R3K1 b - - 2 29

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