Chess Puzzle #03ney — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c1; rooks c8/f1; bishop g2; knight e2; pawns d4/e3/f3/g3/h3. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks a3/f8; knights a5/f6; pawns e6/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe3 — rook a3→e3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook c8→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen d6→f8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxe3 — queen c1→e3, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2R2rk1/5ppp/3qpn2/n7/3P4/r3PPPP/4N1B1/2Q2RK1 b - - 4 23

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