Chess Puzzle #3eDeN — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks d1/f6; bishop e3; pawns d4/f2/g3. Black: king h8; queen b5; rooks c8/d8; bishop f8; pawns b4/e4/g5/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qd5 — queen b5→d5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f6→f8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king h8→g7).
3. Best move: Qxd5 — queen b3→d5, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxd5 (rook d8→d5, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxc8 — rook f8→c8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2rr1b1k/7p/5R2/1q4p1/1p1Pp3/1Q2B1P1/5P2/3R2K1 b - - 1 38

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