Chess Puzzle #1HaIR — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen f4; rook c6; bishop e2; knight f3; pawns b5/e5/f2/g2. Black: king g8; queen b6; rook a1; bishops e7/g6; pawns d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf2 — queen b6→f2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c6→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
3. Best move: Ng5+ — knight f3→g5, gives check. Opponent replies Bxg5 (bishop e7→g5, captures knight).
4. Best move: Qxf2 — queen f4→f2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, discovered attack, long, middlegame. The key move is Rc8+.

Position data

FEN: 6k1/4bpp1/1qR1p1bp/1P1pP3/5Q2/5N2/4BPPK/r7 b - - 5 27

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