Chess Puzzle #K2PXa — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; rook c1; bishop d3; pawns c6/e3/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; rook c8; knight d7; pawns d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne5 — knight d7→e5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: c7 — pawn c6→c7. Opponent replies Nxd3 (knight e5→d3, captures bishop).
3. Best move: Rb1 — rook c1→b1. Opponent replies Kf8 (king g8→f8).
4. Best move: Rb8 — rook b1→b8. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f8→e8).
5. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook b8→c8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, endgame, pin, quiet move, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/3n1ppp/2P1p3/3p4/8/3BPP2/6PP/2R3K1 b - - 0 32

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