Chess Puzzle #5CSFr — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h6; rooks e1/f1; pawns a2/b2/e6/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks d8/g7; knight b5; pawns a6/b7/c6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nc7 — knight b5→c7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rf7 — rook f1→f7. Opponent replies Qg5 (queen e7→g5).
3. Best move: Qxg5 — queen h6→g5, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxg5 (rook g7→g5, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxc7 — rook f7→c7, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move is Rf7.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/1p2q1r1/p1p1P2Q/1n6/8/8/PP4PP/4RR1K b - - 0 31

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