Chess Puzzle #8lRIn — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen h6; rook f6; pawns c3/d4/e3/e5/g2. Black: king e8; queen d8; rook b7; pawns a4/c4/d5/e6/f7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: a3 — pawn a4→a3. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h6→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king e8→e7).
3. Best move: Rxf7+ — rook f6→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king e7→f7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxd8 — queen h8→d8, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, endgame, long, master. The key move Rxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3qk3/1r3p2/4pR1Q/3pP3/p1pP4/2P1P3/6PK/8 b - - 0 38

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