Chess Puzzle #9w4E5 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; queen f4; rooks c2/c7; pawns a3/b2/d4/e3/f3/h2/h4. Black: king f7; queen h3; rooks b7/g6; pawns a4/b5/d5/f6/g7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc7 — rook b7→c7, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc7+ — queen f4→c7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king f7→g8).
3. Best move: Qc8+ — queen c7→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc8 (queen h3→c8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c2→c8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, long. The key move Qxc7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/1rR2kp1/5pr1/1p1p4/p2P1Q1P/P3PP1q/1PR2K1P/8 b - - 2 39

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