Chess Puzzle #X2Vo0 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a1; queen b2; rooks c3/e3; bishop b3; pawns a2/d5/f4/g4. Black: king d7; queen b5; rooks a8/b8; bishop f5; pawns c5/d6/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf1+ — queen b5→f1, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc1 — rook c3→c1. Opponent replies Qxf4 (queen f1→f4, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Rce1 — rook c1→e1. Opponent replies Kc7 (king d7→c7).
4. Best move: gxf5 — pawn g4→f5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, long, middlegame, quiet move. The key move is Rc1.

Position data

FEN: rr6/3k1p2/3p2p1/1qpP1b1p/5PP1/1BR1R3/PQ6/K7 b - - 0 36

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