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

Position

White: king h1; queen d1; rooks a1/f1; knight f5; pawns a3/b2/d6/g2/h2. Black: king b7; queen f4; rooks a8/h8; bishop f8; knight d3; pawns a6/b5/c4/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf2+ — knight d3→f2, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf2 — rook f1→f2, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxf2 (queen f4→f2, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qd5+ — queen d1→d5, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The key move Rxf2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r4b1r/1k3ppp/p2P4/1p3N2/2p2q2/P2n4/1P4PP/R2Q1R1K b - - 1 21

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