Chess Puzzle #hUSnx — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; queen e6; rook f3; pawns a2/b3/c2/e4/g2/h2. Black: king b8; queen b2; rook d8; pawns a7/b7/c5/d4/e5/g5/h4/h6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc8 — rook d8→c8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qd6+ — queen e6→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Ka8 (king b8→a8).
3. Best move: Rf8 — rook f3→f8. Opponent replies Qc3+ (queen b2→c3, gives check).
4. Best move: Kd1 — king d2→d1. Opponent replies a6 (pawn a7→a6).
5. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook f8→c8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, very long. The key move Rxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r4/pp6/4Q2p/2p1p1p1/3pP2p/1P3R2/PqPK2PP/8 b - - 1 33

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