Chess Puzzle #Q4FZC — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen c5; rook c1; pawns b3/e5/f3/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen a8; rook h8; bishop d5; pawns e6/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kd7 — king e8→d7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc7+ — queen c5→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king d7→e8).
3. Best move: Qc8+ — queen c7→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc8 (queen a8→c8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c1→c8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e8→e7).
5. Best move: Rxh8 — rook c8→h8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, skewer, very long. The key move Rxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: q3k2r/5p2/4p2p/2QbP1p1/8/1P3P2/6PP/2R4K b k - 6 33

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