Chess Puzzle #G3Jlo — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks c1/f1; bishop g3; knight d2; pawns a3/d4/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks c8/f8; bishops e4/g7; pawns a7/b7/e7/f6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa3 — queen a5→a3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc8 — rook c1→c8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook f8→c8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Nxe4 — knight d2→e4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move Rxc8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/pp2p1bp/5pp1/q7/3Pb3/P3P1BP/3NQPP1/2R2RK1 b - - 3 23

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