Chess Puzzle #DSO4E — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c7; rooks c1/e1; bishop a3; pawns a2/b3/d4/f4/g2/h2. Black: king a8; queen f6; rooks e6/e8; knight e3; pawns a6/b7/f7/g4/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen f6→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc8+ — queen c7→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook e8→c8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c1→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Ka7 (king a8→a7).
4. Best move: Bc5+ — bishop a3→c5, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc5 (queen d4→c5, captures bishop).
5. Best move: Rxc5 — rook c8→c5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: k3r3/1pQ2p2/p3rq2/7p/3P1Pp1/BP2n3/P5PP/2R1R1K1 b - - 0 26

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