Chess Puzzle #GIRcW — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen c3; rooks f1/f6; pawns a2/b2/e2/g4/h3. Black: king g7; queen e4; rooks a8/e7; bishop c8; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f7/g5/h6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc4 — queen e4→c4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf7+ — rook f6→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king g7→g8).
3. Best move: Rxe7 — rook f7→e7, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxc3+ (queen c4→c3, captures queen, gives check).
4. Best move: bxc3 — pawn b2→c3, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, double check, long, middlegame. The key move Rxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b5/pp2rpk1/2p2R1p/3p2p1/4q1P1/2Q4P/PP2P3/2K2R2 b - - 5 23

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