Chess Puzzle #CATAO — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks d1/f1; bishop f4; pawns a3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks c8/e6; bishop b2; pawns c3/d5/f5/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc4 — rook c8→c4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc4 — queen d4→c4, captures rook. Opponent replies dxc4 (pawn d5→c4, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, middlegame, short. The key move Rxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rq2k1/5p1p/4r3/3p1p2/3Q1B2/P1p4P/1b3PP1/3R1RK1 b - - 1 28

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