Chess Puzzle #9iHI0 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f6; rooks f1/h7; pawns a2/b2/c3/g2/h2. Black: king d7; queen c7; rooks a8/e8; pawns a6/b7/d5/e4/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Re7 — rook e8→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe7+ — queen f6→e7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxe7 (king d7→e7, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rfxf7+ — rook f1→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd6 (king e7→d6).
4. Best move: Rxc7 — rook f7→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, discovered attack, endgame, exposed king, long, sacrifice, skewer. The key move Qxe7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3r3/1pqk1p1R/p4Qp1/3p4/4p3/2P5/PP4PP/5RK1 b - - 8 31

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