Chess Puzzle #Ej550 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks c7/f1; bishops d6/g2; knight e2; pawns a2/b3/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks c8/e8; bishop e4; knight g6; pawns a6/b5/d7/f7/g7/h6. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxg2 — bishop e4→g2, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc8 — rook c7→c8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxc8 (queen d8→c8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Kxg2 — king g1→g2, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rxe2 (rook e8→e2, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxe2 — queen d1→e2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, intermezzo, long, middlegame. The key move Rxc8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2rqr1k1/2Rp1pp1/p2B2np/1p6/4b3/1P4P1/P3NPBP/3Q1RK1 b - - 1 22

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