Chess Puzzle #4hZhz — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks f1/f4; bishop c2; pawns a2/b2/c3/d4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks c8/f8; knight f6; pawns a7/b7/d5/e6/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: g5 — pawn g7→g5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf6 — rook f4→f6, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen e7→f6, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxf6 — queen f3→f6, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxf6 (rook f8→f6, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxf6 — rook f1→f6, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Rxf6 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/pp2q1p1/4pn1p/3p4/3P1R2/2P2Q2/PPB3PP/5RK1 b - - 1 23

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