Chess Puzzle #soJ4z — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen g4; rook d1; knight d3; pawns a2/b3/d4/e3/f2. Black: king g8; queen a6; rook c2; knight e4; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxa2 — rook c2→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc1 — rook d1→c1. Opponent replies h6 (pawn h7→h6).
3. Best move: Qg6 — queen g4→g6. Opponent replies Qc6 (queen a6→c6).
4. Best move: Rxc6 — rook c1→c6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, quiet move. The key move is Rc1.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/pp4pp/q3p3/3p4/3Pn1Q1/1P1NP3/P1r2PK1/3R4 b - - 5 30

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