Chess Puzzle #A4TCu — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen b8; rooks d1/d8; pawns b3/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f5; rook a2; bishops e6/f8; pawns c5/f6/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc2 — queen f5→c2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook d8→f8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
3. Best move: Qc7+ — queen b8→c7, gives check. Opponent replies Kh6 (king g7→h6).
4. Best move: Qf4+ — queen c7→f4, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1Q1R1bk1/7p/4bpp1/2p2q2/8/1P3P2/r5PP/3R2K1 b - - 5 31

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