Chess Puzzle #EC53p — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d6; rooks e1/f1; knight e4; pawns a2/b3/c2/d3/g2/h2. Black: king c8; queen d7; rooks f8/g8; bishop b7; knight g4; pawns a7/b6/c5/e5/h4. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxe4 — bishop b7→e4, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook g8→f8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen d6→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qd8 (queen d7→d8).
4. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen f8→d8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, exposed king, long, middlegame, queenside attack. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2k2rr1/pb1q4/1p1Q4/2p1p3/4N1np/1P1P4/P1P3PP/4RRK1 b - - 6 27

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