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

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks b1/f1; bishop a6; knight d2; pawns a2/c3/e4/f2/g2/h3. Black: king b8; queen g6; rooks d8/h8; bishops e5/e6; pawns a7/b7/c6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxd2 — rook d8→d2, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxb7+ — rook b1→b7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ka8 (king b8→a8).
3. Best move: Qe3 — queen f3→e3. Opponent replies Bd4 (bishop e5→d4).
4. Best move: cxd4 — pawn c3→d4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Rxb7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r3r/pp3pp1/B1p1b1qp/4b3/4P3/2P2Q1P/P2N1PP1/1R3RK1 b - - 1 20

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