Chess Puzzle #sY7BK — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f7; rooks c1/c4; bishop e3; knights b5/d4; pawns a2/f2/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen b2; rooks d8/h8; bishops b6/d7; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxb5 — bishop d7→b5, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc7+ — rook c4→c7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kb8 (king c8→b8).
3. Best move: Nxb5 — knight d4→b5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxc1+ (queen b2→c1, captures rook, gives check).
4. Best move: Rxc1 — rook c7→c1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, intermezzo, long, middlegame, queenside attack. The key move Rxc7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2kr3r/pppb1Qpp/1b3n2/1N6/2RN4/4B3/Pq3PPP/2R3K1 b - - 3 22

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