Chess Puzzle #2zu8D — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a2; queen d5; rook f1; pawns a5/b2/c2. Black: king f7; queen e3; rook f8; pawns a7/d3/d4/f2/g6/g7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe6 — queen e3→e6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf2+ — rook f1→f2, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f7→e7).
3. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen d5→e6, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe6 (king e7→e6, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxf8 — rook f2→f8, captures rook. Opponent replies d2 (pawn d3→d2).
5. Best move: Rf1 — rook f8→f1.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, endgame, very long. The key move Rxf2+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5r2/p4kp1/6p1/P2Q4/3p4/3pq3/KPP2p2/5R2 b - - 4 37

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