Chess Puzzle #3Hr2u — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen e6; rooks g1/h1; knight g5; pawns a2/c3/c4/d4/g2. Black: king g8; queen a5; rooks a8/f8; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/c6/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kg7 — king g8→g7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h1→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Nxh7 (knight f6→h7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qe7+ — queen e6→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Rf7 (rook f8→f7).
4. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen e7→f7, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/pp5p/2p1Qnp1/q5N1/2PP4/2P5/P5P1/2K3RR b - - 6 21

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