Chess Puzzle #F2A7E — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g5; rooks c1/e3; bishop d3; pawns c3/d4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen c7; rooks b3/f8; knight f6; pawns d5/e6/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc3 — rook b3→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc3 — rook c1→c3, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxc3 (queen c7→c3, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qe5 — queen g5→e5.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, short. The key move Rxc3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/2q2pkp/4pnp1/3p2Q1/3P4/1rPBR2P/5PP1/2R3K1 b - - 2 24

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