Chess Puzzle #tIl42 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen a6; rooks c1/f1; bishop d4; pawns a3/e3/e5/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks c8/e8; knight d7; pawns a7/b6/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nb8 — knight d7→b8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxc8 — queen a6→c8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook e8→c8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c1→c8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
4. Best move: Rxb8 — rook c8→b8, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Rxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r1r1k1/p2nqpp1/Qp2p2p/3pP3/3B4/P3PP2/6PP/2R2RK1 b - - 3 24

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