Chess Puzzle #0wkc8 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h8; rooks d1/f1; bishop e4; pawns a2/b2/c3/f4/g4/h2. Black: king f7; queen c7; rooks a8/f6; bishop c8; knight f8; pawns a7/b7/c6/e6/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf4 — rook f6→f4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf4+ — rook f1→f4, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf4 (queen c7→f4, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rf1 — rook d1→f1.

Tactical themes

advantage, clearance, middlegame, pin, short. The key move Rxf4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b2n1Q/ppq2kp1/2p1pr1p/8/4BPP1/2P5/PP5P/3R1RK1 b - - 2 20

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