Chess Puzzle #81hlS — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h5; rook a1; bishop h6; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c4/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen g8; rook a8; bishop d7; knight b6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/e6/e7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qh7 — queen g8→h7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rf1 — rook a1→f1. Opponent replies Rg8 (rook a8→g8).
3. Best move: Rf7 — rook f1→f7. Opponent replies Qxf7 (queen h7→f7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxf7 — queen h5→f7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, quiet move. The key move is Rf1.

Position data

FEN: r5qk/pppbp3/1n1pp2B/7Q/2P5/2N4P/PP4P1/R5K1 b - - 6 20

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