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

Position

White: king g1; rooks a1/c1; bishop f4; knights b1/g5; pawns a2/b2/e4/g2/h2. Black: king c8; rooks d8/h8; bishops b7/g7; knight c2; pawns a6/b4/c7/d5/f5/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxa1 — knight c2→a1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc7+ — rook c1→c7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
3. Best move: Rxg7+ — rook c7→g7, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Ka8 (king b8→a8).
4. Best move: exf5 — pawn e4→f5, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

discovered attack, discovered check, equality, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Rxc7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/1bp3bp/p7/3p1pN1/1p2PB2/8/PPn3PP/RNR3K1 b - - 1 21

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