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

Position

White: king g1; queen e4; rooks b1/e1; pawns a2/b3/c2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b7; rooks d5/e8; bishop e6; pawns a7/d6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc8 — rook e8→c8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: c4 — pawn c2→c4. Opponent replies Bf5 (bishop e6→f5).
3. Best move: Qxd5 — queen e4→d5, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxd5 (queen b7→d5, captures queen).
4. Best move: cxd5 — pawn c4→d5, captures queen. Opponent replies Bxb1 (bishop f5→b1, captures rook).
5. Best move: Rxb1 — rook e1→b1, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, very long. The key move is c4.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/pq3pp1/3pb2p/3r4/4Q3/1P6/P1P2PPP/1R2R1K1 b - - 2 22

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