Chess Puzzle #WojA9 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks b5/f1; bishop e3; knight d4; pawns a4/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a6; rooks c8/f8; bishop g7; knight c5; pawns a7/b7/e7/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa4 — queen a6→a4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc5 — rook b5→c5, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxc2 (queen a4→c2, captures queen).
3. Best move: Nxc2 — knight d4→c2, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxc5 (rook c8→c5, captures rook).
4. Best move: Bxc5 — bishop e3→c5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame. The key move Rxc5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/pp2ppbp/q5p1/1Rn5/P2N4/2P1B3/2Q2PPP/5RK1 b - - 0 19

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