Chess Puzzle #VBN7k — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/c1; bishop e3; pawns b3/f2/f6/g3/h2. Black: king b7; queen b5; rooks d3/h8; bishop f8; knight c6; pawns a7/e6/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bd6 — bishop f8→d6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen c2→c6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxc6 (queen b5→c6, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxa7+ — rook a1→a7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king b7→b8).
4. Best move: Rxc6 — rook c1→c6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5b1r/pk3p2/2n1pP2/1q6/8/1P1rB1P1/2Q2P1P/R1R3K1 b - - 4 26

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