Chess Puzzle #M8Sxw — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f3; rooks d1/d2; pawns a5/b3/d5/e5/f4/g5/h3. Black: king f5; rooks d8/e7; knight c8; pawns a6/b7/c6/g6/g7/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Red7 — rook e7→d7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: dxc6 — pawn d5→c6, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxd2 (rook d7→d2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxd2 — rook d1→d2, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxd2 (rook d8→d2, captures rook).
4. Best move: cxb7 — pawn c6→b7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Ne7 (knight c8→e7).
5. Best move: b8=Q — pawn b7→b8, promotes to queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, crushing, endgame, promotion, sacrifice, very long. The key move dxc6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2nr4/1p2r1p1/p1p3p1/P2PPkPp/5P2/1P3K1P/3R4/3R4 b - - 1 35

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