Chess Puzzle #F7ou6 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e7; rooks a5/c1; pawns a6/b4/c3/e3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen e2; rooks a8/b6; pawns a7/c6/d5/e4/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxa6 — rook b6→a6, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb7 — queen e7→b7. Opponent replies Rxa5 (rook a6→a5, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxa8+ — queen b7→a8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
4. Best move: bxa5 — pawn b4→a5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move Qxa8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/p3Qpp1/Prp4p/R2p4/1P2p3/2P1P3/4qPPP/2R3K1 b - - 5 27

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