Chess Puzzle #eYQ19 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks d1/d7; bishop b5; pawns a3/b2/c4/f2/g3/h2. Black: king f8; queen c8; rooks b7/c5; bishop e7; pawns a5/b6/e6/f6/f7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxb5 — rook c5→b5, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxb7 — rook d7→b7, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxb7 (queen c8→b7, captures rook).
3. Best move: cxb5 — pawn c4→b5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move Rxb7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2q2k2/1r1Rbp1p/1p2pp2/pBr5/2P5/P5P1/1PQ2P1P/3R2K1 b - - 4 22

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