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

Position

White: king f2; queen a4; rooks c1/e1; knight f3; pawns a3/b4/d4/e3/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks c3/f8; bishop h6; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/f6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc1 — rook c3→c1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc1 — rook e1→c1, captures rook. Opponent replies fxe5 (pawn f6→e5, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Qd7 — queen a4→d7.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Rxc1 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/pp5p/1q2pppb/3pP3/QP1P4/P1r1PN2/5KPP/2R1R3 b - - 1 25

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