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

Position

White: king c1; queen e6; rooks d1/h1; bishop b3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d5/f3/g5. Black: king g7; queen b5; rooks c7/f7; knight h5; pawns a6/b4/d6/e7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf4 — knight h5→f4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h1→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g7→h7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen e6→f7, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, deflection, master, middlegame, short. The key move Rxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 8/2r1prkp/p2pQ1p1/1q1P2Pn/1p6/1B3P2/PPP5/2KR3R b - - 1 23

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