Chess Puzzle #V6WGB — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a4; rook b7; knights d2/d4; pawns a2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e7; queen c5; rook c8; bishop c4; knight e5; pawns a7/d5/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc7 — rook c8→c7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nc6+ — knight d4→c6, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc6 (queen c5→c6, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxc6 — queen a4→c6, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxc6 (knight e5→c6, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxc7+ — rook b7→c7, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, capturing the defender, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Rxc7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r5/pR2kppp/4p3/2qpn3/Q1bN4/2P5/P2N1PPP/6K1 b - - 1 23

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