Chess Puzzle #1Xzwh — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d2; rooks a1/f1; bishop e4; knight e2; pawns a2/b3/c2/d4/f5/g3/h3. Black: king g7; queen c7; rooks d8/f8; bishop a6; knight b6; pawns a5/b4/c6/e5/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: exd4 — pawn e5→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: f6+ — pawn f5→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g7→h8).
3. Best move: Qh6 — queen d2→h6. Opponent replies Rg8 (rook f8→g8).
4. Best move: Rf4 — rook f1→f4.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, long, middlegame. The key move is f6+.

Position data

FEN: 3r1r2/2q2pkp/bnp3p1/p3pP2/1p1PB3/1P4PP/P1PQN3/R4RK1 b - - 0 20

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