Chess Puzzle #8ayw0 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks d1/h1; knights c3/e5; pawns a2/f2/g3. Black: king d8; queen f6; rooks a8/h8; bishop h3; knight e6; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/e7/f7/g5. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bf5 — bishop h3→f5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh8+ — rook h1→h8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxh8 (queen f6→h8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Nxf7+ — knight e5→f7, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move Rxh8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2k3r/pp2pp2/2p1nq2/3pN1p1/8/2N1Q1Pb/P4P2/3R2KR b - - 12 26

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