Chess Puzzle #1xhYa — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b4; rooks d4/e7; knight f3; pawns a5/b2/f2/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen f6; rooks c2/c8; bishop b7; pawns a6/b5/d5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Ba8 — bishop b7→a8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rf4 — rook d4→f4. Opponent replies Rxb2 (rook c2→b2, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Rxf6 — rook f4→f6, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxb4 (rook b2→b4, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rfxf7 — rook f6→f7, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Rf4.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/1b2Rpp1/p4q1p/Pp1p4/1Q1R4/5N1P/1Pr2PP1/6K1 b - - 3 25

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