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

Position

White: king h1; rooks c1/c8; pawns d7/e5/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b6; rook f8; pawns a5/d5/e6/f4/f7/h7. Black is ahead by 6 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: a4 — pawn a5→a4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: R1c7 — rook c1→c7. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
3. Best move: Rxf8 — rook c8→f8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxc7 (queen b6→c7, captures rook).
4. Best move: d8=Q — pawn d7→d8, promotes to queen. Opponent replies Qxd8 (queen c7→d8, captures queen).
5. Best move: Rxd8 — rook f8→d8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advanced pawn, advantage, endgame, master, promotion, queen rook endgame, quiet move, very long. The key move is R1c7.

Position data

FEN: 2R2rk1/3P1p1p/1q2p3/p2pP3/5p2/7P/6P1/2R4K b - - 4 38

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