Chess Puzzle #Cpx34 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks a1/d3; pawns a3/b4/c3/f4/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen c2; rooks c4/f6; pawns a7/b6/d5/e6/f5/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf4 — rook c4→f4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc1 — rook a1→c1. Opponent replies Qxd3 (queen c2→d3, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxd3 — queen e3→d3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, short. The key move is Rc1.

Position data

FEN: 8/p5pk/1p2pr1p/3p1p2/1Pr2P2/P1PRQ3/2q3PP/R5K1 b - - 7 31

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