Chess Puzzle #Z0sX5 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishops b5/f4; pawns a4/c2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks c8/e7; bishop g6; knights e5/f5; pawns d5/e6/f6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc2 — queen c7→c2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc1 — rook a1→c1. Opponent replies Qxc1 (queen c2→c1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Bxc1 — bishop f4→c1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move is Rc1.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/2q1r1pp/4ppb1/1B1pnn2/P4B2/7P/2P2PP1/R2QR1K1 b - - 1 24

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