Chess Puzzle #X7QlU — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; rooks c1/e1; bishop g3; knights a4/g4; pawns a2/b4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; rooks d8/e8; bishop d4; knights f5/g6; pawns a6/b7/c7/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: h5 — pawn h7→h5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc7+ — rook c1→c7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
3. Best move: Rxe8 — rook e1→e8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook d8→e8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Re7+ — rook c7→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Nxg3 (knight f5→g3, captures bishop).
5. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e7→e8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, discovered attack, middlegame, queenside attack, very long. The key move Rxc7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2krr3/1pp3pp/p4pn1/5n2/NP1b2N1/6B1/P4PPP/2R1R1K1 b - - 4 22

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