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

Position

White: king g2; queen f4; rooks c7/f7; pawns f2/f3/h2. Black: king g8; queen c3; rooks a8/f8; pawns a3/e6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc7 — queen c3→c7, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f7→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook a8→f8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxc7 — queen f4→c7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, intermezzo, short. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/2R2Rpp/4p3/8/5Q2/p1q2P2/5PKP/8 b - - 4 34

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