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

Position

White: king g2; queen a6; rooks c1/d1; knight e4; pawns a3/b2/e5/f2/g3/g5. Black: king c7; queen e7; rooks a8/h8; knights d5/f3; pawns a7/b6/c6/e6/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxg5 — knight f3→g5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc6+ — rook c1→c6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxc6 (king c7→c6, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rc1+ — rook d1→c1, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king c6→d7).
4. Best move: Qb7+ — queen a6→b7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king d7→e8).
5. Best move: Qxa8+ — queen b7→a8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, interference, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxc6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r6r/p1k1q3/Qpp1p1p1/3nP1Pp/4N3/P4nP1/1P3PK1/2RR4 b - - 3 23

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