Chess Puzzle #o9Xio — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks d1/d3; bishop c4; pawns a2/c3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king e8; queen a3; rooks d8/h8; bishops d7/e7; pawns a7/c6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bc8 — bishop d7→c8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d3→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxd8 (bishop e7→d8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen f3→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e8→e7).
4. Best move: Qxc8 — queen c6→c8, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Rxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3rk2r/p2bbppp/2p1p3/8/2B5/q1PR1Q2/P4PPP/3R2K1 b k - 5 19

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