Chess Puzzle #0klga — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f3; queen e5; rooks a1/h1; knight f4; pawns a2/b2/d5/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king d7; queen d2; rooks f8/h8; bishop b5; pawns a7/b6/c7/h7. White is ahead by 3 points of material. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rac1 — rook a1→c1. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Qe2+ — queen d2→e2, gives check. Opponent replies Ke4 (king f3→e4).
3. Best move: Rxf4+ — rook f8→f4, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf4 (queen e5→f4, captures rook).
4. Best move: Re8+ — rook h8→e8, gives check.

Tactical themes

clearance, crushing, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The key move Rxf4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5r1r/p1pk3p/1p6/1b1PQ3/5N2/4PK2/PP1q1PPP/R6R w - - 7 22

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