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

Position

White: king h2; queen f6; rook e1; knight g5; pawns e4/f2/g2/g4. Black: king g8; queen c7; rook a3; bishop d4; pawns a6/b7/e5/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ra2 — rook a3→a2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc1 — rook e1→c1. Opponent replies Rxf2 (rook a2→f2, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qxf2 — queen f6→f2, captures rook. Opponent replies Bxf2 (bishop d4→f2, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxc7 — rook c1→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, long. The key move is Rc1.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/1pq2p1p/p4Qp1/4p1N1/3bP1P1/r7/5PPK/4R3 b - - 1 30

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