Chess Puzzle #c8lbC — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b1; rooks c2/d1; bishops e3/f1; pawns a2/b4/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen b7; rooks a8/d8; bishops c3/d5; pawns b5/f3/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rac8 — rook a8→c8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc1 — queen b1→c1. Opponent replies Bxb4 (bishop c3→b4, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Rxd5 — rook d1→d5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxd5 (queen b7→d5, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rxc8 — rook c2→c8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook d8→c8, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qxc8+ — queen c1→c8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, middlegame, quiet move, very long. The key move Qxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2r2k1/1q3p1p/6p1/1p1b4/1P4P1/2b1Bp1P/P1R5/1Q1R1BK1 b - - 1 28

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