Chess Puzzle #BZpa6 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e1; queen d2; rooks d1/h4; knight g5; pawns a2/b3/c4/c5/e4/f2/g2. Black: king h8; queen f6; rooks d7/d8; knight a5; pawns a6/b7/c6/d5/e5/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: dxc4 — pawn d5→c4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h4→h7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxh7 (rook d7→h7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen d2→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd8 (queen f6→d8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Rxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/1p1r3p/p1p2qp1/n1Ppp1N1/2P1P2R/1P6/P2Q1PP1/3RK3 b - - 0 26

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