Chess Puzzle #3pEh3 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen d3; rooks b1/e1; bishop c4; knight e4; pawns a3/b2/e5/f3/g2/h2. Black: king c7; queen g5; rooks a8/f4; bishops c5/f5; pawns a7/b7/c6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf3+ — rook f4→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf3 — queen d3→f3, captures rook. Opponent replies Bxe4 (bishop f5→e4, captures knight).
3. Best move: Rxe4 — rook e1→e4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook a8→f8).
4. Best move: Bf7 — bishop c4→f7.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, hanging piece, long, middlegame. The key move Qxf3 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r7/ppk3pp/2p5/2b1Pbq1/2B1Nr2/P2Q1P2/1P4PP/1R2RK2 b - - 3 22

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