Chess Puzzle #I76tR — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen a7; rooks c1/f1; knights g5/h2; pawns a3/f4/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d5; rooks b3/b8; bishops e7/g6; pawns d6/e6/f7/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: R8b7 — rook b8→b7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c1→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Bf8 (bishop e7→f8).
3. Best move: Qa8 — queen a7→a8. Opponent replies Rb8 (rook b7→b8).
4. Best move: Rxb8 — rook c8→b8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxb8 (rook b3→b8, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qxb8 — queen a8→b8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, very long. The key move is Rc8+.

Position data

FEN: 1r4k1/Q3bpp1/3pp1b1/3q2Np/5P2/Pr5P/6PN/2R2R1K b - - 3 30

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