Chess Puzzle #AXIdU — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/f1; knights d4/e4; pawns b2/b3/c2/g2/h3. Black: king e7; queen g5; rooks a8/h8; bishops d7/e5; pawns a6/b5/d6/e6/f7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxd4+ — bishop e5→d4, captures knight, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd4 — queen d3→d4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qe5 (queen g5→e5).
3. Best move: Rxf7+ — rook f1→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king e7→f7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Nxd6+ — knight e4→d6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r6r/3bkp2/p2pp3/1p2b1q1/3NN3/1P1Q3P/1PP3P1/R4RK1 b - - 2 18

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