Chess Puzzle #5vU1P — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen d5; rooks d1/e2; bishop e1; pawns b2/b3/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b4; rooks d8/f7; bishop f8; pawns a6/b7/d6/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf4 — queen b4→f4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rf2 — rook e2→f2. Opponent replies Qxf2 (queen f4→f2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Bxf2 — bishop e1→f2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, master, middlegame, pin, short. The key move is Rf2.

Position data

FEN: 3r1bk1/1p3rp1/p2p3p/3Q4/1q3P2/1P6/1P2R1PP/3RB2K b - - 5 25

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