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

Position

White: king f1; queen e1; rooks a1/h7; bishops b2/e2; knight f3; pawns a2/b3/g3. Black: king g8; queen b6; rooks d8/f8; bishop b7; knight c2; pawns a6/b5/f7/g7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe1 — knight c2→e1, captures queen. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxg7+ — rook h7→g7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Rxf7+ — rook g7→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h8→g8).
4. Best move: Rg7+ — rook f7→g7, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, deflection, discovered attack, long, middlegame. The key move Rxg7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r1rk1/1b3ppR/pq6/1p6/8/1P3NP1/PBn1B3/R3QK2 b - - 1 22

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