Chess Puzzle #ZR9C5 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g2; rooks c1/c8; pawns a3/b4/d4/f2/g3. Black: king h8; queen g5; rooks e8/h6; bishop b8; pawns a7/d5/e5/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc8 — rook e8→c8, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c1→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
3. Best move: Qxd5 — queen g2→d5, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, fork, short. The key move Rxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1bR1r2k/p6p/7r/3pp1q1/1P1P4/P5P1/5PQ1/2R3K1 b - - 1 31

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