Chess Puzzle #CKuHT — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h4; rook c1; bishops b5/h2; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/d4/e5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d7; rook c8; bishops b7/g7; knight c6; pawns a7/b6/d5/e6/f7/g6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxd4 — knight c6→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c1→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc8 (queen d7→c8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxd4 — queen h4→d4, captures knight. Opponent replies Qc1+ (queen c8→c1, gives check).
4. Best move: Bf1 — bishop b5→f1. Opponent replies Ba6 (bishop b7→a6).
5. Best move: Nd2 — knight f3→d2.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, intermezzo, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/pb1q1pb1/1pn1p1pp/1B1pP3/3P3Q/5N1P/PP3PPB/2R3K1 b - - 1 22

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