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

Position

White: king d2; queen e3; rooks f1/f4; bishop d3; knight e2; pawns c2/e4/h3. Black: king g7; queen h6; rooks a8/h8; bishop c8; knight d7; pawns a7/b4/c6/d6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rf8 — rook h8→f8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf7+ — rook f4→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxf7+ — rook f1→f7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king g7→f7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxh6 — queen e3→h6, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Rxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b4r/p2n1pk1/2pp2pq/8/1p2PR2/3BQ2P/2PKN3/5R2 b - - 2 25

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