Chess Puzzle #72eRS — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king a3; queen d8; rooks f3/h8; pawns a2/b3/c3/g2/h3. Black: king h5; queen e5; rooks b1/e6; bishop b5; pawns c6/d5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: d4 — pawn d5→d4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rf5+ — rook f3→f5, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf5 (queen e5→f5, captures rook).
3. Best move: g4+ — pawn g2→g4, gives check. Opponent replies Qxg4 (queen f5→g4, captures pawn).
4. Best move: hxg4+ — pawn h3→g4, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move hxg4+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3Q3R/5pp1/2p1r2p/1b1pq2k/8/KPP2R1P/P5P1/1r6 b - - 20 39

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