Chess Puzzle #HI8bJ — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rook c1; knights d5/f2; pawns b3/b4/e4/f3/g5/h4. Black: king g8; queen c6; rook a3; bishop g7; knight f8; pawns b5/d6/e5/f7/g6/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxb3 — rook a3→b3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc6 — rook c1→c6, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxe3 (rook b3→e3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxe3 — knight d5→e3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move Rxc6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5nk1/5pb1/2qp2p1/1p1Np1Pp/1P2P2P/rP2QP2/5N2/2R3K1 b - - 1 27

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