Chess Puzzle #LBL3v — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks c1/e3; bishop g4; pawns a2/d4/e5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/f8; knight a3; pawns a7/b6/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rac8 — rook a8→c8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc8 — rook c1→c8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook f8→c8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxa3 — queen b3→a3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxa3 (queen e7→a3, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxa3 — rook e3→a3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/p3qppp/1p2p3/3pP3/3P2B1/nQ2R2P/P4PP1/2R3K1 b - - 0 19

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