Chess Puzzle #Ejcai — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks e1/f1; bishop d3; pawns a2/b3/c4/d5/g2/h2. Black: king h7; queen d8; rooks b8/f8; bishop e5; pawns a6/c5/d6/f7/g6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: h5 — pawn h6→h5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf7+ — rook f1→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxg6+ — queen g4→g6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The key move Rxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r1q1r2/5p1k/p2p2pp/2pPb3/2P3Q1/1P1B4/P5PP/4RRK1 b - - 4 22

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