Chess Puzzle #2ABNi — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g6; rooks a1/f1; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/e5/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a8/f8; bishops b7/g7; knight d7; pawns a7/b6/c5/d5/g5. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: cxd4 — pawn c5→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Nxg5 — knight f3→g5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxf1+ (rook f8→f1, captures rook, gives check).
3. Best move: Rxf1 — rook a1→f1, captures rook. Opponent replies Nf8 (knight d7→f8).
4. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, kingside attack, long, middlegame, pin. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pbqn2b1/1p4Q1/2ppP1p1/3P3P/2P2N2/PP4P1/R4RK1 b - - 0 18

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