Chess Puzzle #18k3x — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d6; rooks d1/f1; pawns a2/g2/h2. Black: king h6; queen c4; rooks c8/h8; pawns a7/b4/b7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rhf8 — rook h8→f8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf8 — rook f1→f8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook c8→f8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen d6→f8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, short. The key move Qxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r4r/pp5p/3Q2pk/8/1pq5/8/P5PP/3R1R1K b - - 0 29

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