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

Position

White: king g1; queen b2; rook d2; bishops b1/e1; knight c3; pawns a3/b4/e4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen f3; rook c8; bishops b7/e7; knight f6; pawns a6/b6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen f3→c3, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d2→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook c8→d8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxc3 — queen b2→c3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, middlegame, short. The key move is Rd8+.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/1b2bppp/pp2pn2/8/1P2P3/P1N2qP1/1Q1R1P1P/1B2B1K1 b - - 0 24

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