Chess Puzzle #1vzV3 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks a1/f2; bishop c5; knight e7; pawns a2/b2/c2/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen e6; rooks a8/h8; bishop a6; knights b8/f6; pawns a7/b4/d5/g4/h4. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ne4 — knight f6→e4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rf5 — rook f2→f5. Opponent replies Nc6 (knight b8→c6).
3. Best move: Qxg4 — queen d1→g4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Nxe7 (knight c6→e7, captures knight).
4. Best move: Rh5+ — rook f5→h5, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, interference, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move is Rf5.

Position data

FEN: rn5r/p3N2k/b3qn2/2Bp4/1p4pp/8/PPP2RPP/R2Q3K b - - 0 25

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