Chess Puzzle #8fV39 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen d6; rooks b7/d7; knight g5; pawns f2/g3/h4. Black: king g8; queen e2; rooks c8/f8; bishop g7; pawns a7/e5/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rc2 — rook c8→c2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf7 — rook d7→f7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qxf2+ (queen e2→f2, captures pawn, gives check).
3. Best move: Rxf2 — rook f7→f2, captures queen. Opponent replies Rcxf2+ (rook c2→f2, captures rook, gives check).
4. Best move: Kh3 — king g2→h3.

Tactical themes

crushing, defensive move, long, middlegame. The key move Rxf7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/pR1R1pb1/3Q2p1/4p1Np/7P/6P1/4qPK1/8 b - - 5 23

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