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

Position

White: king c1; queen h4; rook h8; knights c3/f4; pawns a2/b2/c2/e5/f3. Black: king e8; queen d4; rook a8; knights d7/f8; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/e6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe5 — knight d7→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook h8→f8, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e8→d7).
3. Best move: Rxa8 — rook f8→a8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qe3+ (queen d4→e3, gives check).
4. Best move: Kd1 — king c1→d1.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: r3kn1R/pp1n1p2/2p1p1p1/3pP3/3q1N1Q/2N2P2/PPP5/2K5 b q - 1 23

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