Chess Puzzle #9BxZG — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks b3/f1; bishop e3; knight d4; pawns a2/c2/e5/f2/g4/h5. Black: king e8; queen c3; rooks c4/h8; bishops c5/d7; pawns a7/b6/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd4 — rook c4→d4, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc3 — rook b3→c3, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxd1 (rook d4→d1, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxd1 — rook f1→d1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, short. The key move Rxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4k2r/p2b1pp1/1p2p2p/2bpP2P/2rN2P1/1Rq1B3/P1P2P2/3Q1RK1 b k - 6 18

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