Chess Puzzle #KavWH — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e7; rooks c2/d1; pawns a4/e3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks c5/c8; pawns a5/b7/c4/e4/f5/g6/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa4 — queen c6→a4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rcd2 — rook c2→d2. Opponent replies Qe8 (queen a4→e8).
3. Best move: Rd8 — rook d2→d8. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook c8→d8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rxd8 — rook d1→d8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxd8 (queen e8→d8, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen e7→d8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, pin, quiet move, very long. The key move Qxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/1p2Q1p1/2q3p1/p1r2p2/P1p1p3/4P2P/2R2PP1/3R2K1 b - - 3 36

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