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

Position

White: king g1; queen f5; rooks c1/f1; pawns a4/b5/e4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks c2/d2; bishop a5; pawns a7/b7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf2 — rook d2→f2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc8+ — queen f5→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen b6→d8).
3. Best move: Rxc2 — rook c1→c2, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc2 (rook f2→c2, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxc2 — queen c8→c2, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Qc8+.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/pp3ppp/1q6/bP3Q2/P3P3/6P1/2rr1P1P/2R2RK1 b - - 4 26

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