Chess Puzzle #2igtN — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f3; queen c8; rooks c1/f4; pawns a4/b3/d4/f5/g3. Black: king h7; queen g5; rook e2; bishop b5; pawns a7/b6/c6/d5/f7/g7/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: h4 — pawn h5→h4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh4+ — rook f4→h4, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Qxh4 (queen g5→h4, captures rook).
3. Best move: gxh4 — pawn g3→h4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, short. The key move Rxh4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2Q5/p4ppk/1pp5/1b1p1Pqp/P2P1R2/1P3KP1/4r3/2R5 b - - 2 33

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