Chess Puzzle #r3uyd — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen c3; rooks d1/h1; bishop e4; pawns c4/c5/f3/g2/g3. Black: king g7; queen c7; rooks b8/f8; knight e5; pawns a7/d7/e6/g5/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc5 — queen c7→c5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxd7+ — rook d1→d7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rf7 (rook f8→f7).
3. Best move: Bd5 — bishop e4→d5.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Rxd7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r3r2/p1qp2k1/4p2p/2P1n1p1/2P1B3/2Q2PP1/6P1/3R1K1R b - - 0 29

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