Chess Puzzle #5LmU9 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen f3; rooks h1/h2; bishop c2; pawns a3/b2/c3/d4/f2/g4. Black: king g7; queen g5; rooks a8/e6; knight c6; pawns a6/b7/d5/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rh8 — rook a8→h8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h2→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxh7 (rook h8→h7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h1→h7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxh7 (king g7→h7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f3→f7, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r7/1p3pkp/p1n1r1p1/3p2q1/3P2P1/P1P2Q2/1PB2PKR/7R b - - 3 23

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