Chess Puzzle #08VVF — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen f3; rooks a1/h1; bishop e2; knights b1/g1; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e5. Black: king e8; queen c7; rooks a8/h8; bishops e6/h4; knight e4; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ng3+ — knight e4→g3, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxg3 — queen f3→g3, captures knight. Opponent replies Bxg3 (bishop h4→g3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxh8+ — rook h1→h8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e8→e7).
4. Best move: Rxa8 — rook h8→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

equality, long, middlegame, skewer. The key move Rxh8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/ppq2p2/2p1b1p1/3pP3/3Pn2b/2P2Q2/PP2B3/RN3KNR b kq - 1 17

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