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

Position

White: king e1; queen b5; rooks a1/h1; bishops c1/f1; knight f3; pawns b2/d2/e4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rooks a8/h8; bishops b7/f8; knights b8/g8; pawns c4/e7/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd7 — queen d8→d7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxa8 — rook a1→a8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxb5 (queen d7→b5, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxb8+ — rook a8→b8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e8→d7).
4. Best move: Bxc4 — bishop f1→c4, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, opening, pin. The key move Rxb8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rn1qkbnr/1b2pppp/8/1Q6/2p1P3/5N2/1P1P1PPP/R1B1KB1R b KQkq - 0 9

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