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

Position

White: king g1; queen e5; rooks c1/f1; knights b5/d2; pawns a4/b2/d4/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d7; rooks a8/f8; bishop a6; knight b8; pawns a5/b6/c6/d5/e4/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: cxb5 — pawn c6→b5, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc7 — rook c1→c7. Opponent replies Nc6 (knight b8→c6).
3. Best move: Qg3 — queen e5→g3. Opponent replies Qxc7 (queen d7→c7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxc7 — queen g3→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Rc7.

Position data

FEN: rn3rk1/3q2pp/bpp5/pN1pQ3/P2Pp3/4P3/1P1N1PPP/2R2RK1 b - - 3 18

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