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

Position

White: king h1; rooks c1/d6; pawns a2/b7/f2/f3/h2. Black: king h8; rooks b8/f7; knights c3/e6; pawns f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxa2 — knight c3→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c1→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook f7→f8).
3. Best move: Rxb8 — rook c8→b8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxb8 (rook f8→b8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rc6 — rook d6→c6. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
5. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c6→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
6. Best move: Rxb8 — rook c8→b8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, very long. The key move is Rc8+.

Position data

FEN: 1r5k/1P3rpp/3Rnp2/8/8/2n2P2/P4P1P/2R4K b - - 1 34

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