Chess Puzzle #F3Gkb — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen h5; rooks c1/d1; knight g5; pawns a3/b4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d3; rooks a8/f8; bishop c8; knight b8; pawns a7/b7/e6/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf5 — queen d3→f5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rf1 — rook d1→f1. Opponent replies Qg6 (queen f5→g6).
3. Best move: Qxg6 — queen h5→g6, captures queen. Opponent replies fxg6 (pawn f7→g6, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures rook).
5. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c1→c8, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, kingside attack, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: rnb2rk1/pp3pp1/4p3/6NQ/1P6/P2q4/6PP/2RR3K b - - 3 18

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