Chess Puzzle #4Y1Da — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks f1/f2; bishop d3; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/g4/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop g5; pawns a7/b7/c6/f5/g6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: fxg4 — pawn f5→g4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f2→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen d8→f8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r2q1r1k/pp6/2p3pp/5pb1/3P2P1/2PB3Q/PP3R1P/5RK1 b - - 0 25

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