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

Position

White: king f1; queen f3; rooks a1/e1; bishop b2; pawns a6/d3/d4/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king c8; queen d7; rooks d8/e8; bishop f6; pawns a7/b6/c7/f5/g5/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd5 — queen d7→d5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe8 — rook e1→e8, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxf3 (queen d5→f3, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook e8→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd8 (king c8→d8, captures rook).
4. Best move: gxf3 — pawn g2→f3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, intermezzo, long, middlegame. The key move Rxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2krr3/p1pq3p/Pp3b2/3P1pp1/3P4/3P1Q1P/1B3PP1/R3RK2 b - - 0 23

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