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

Position

White: king h1; queen h3; rooks a1/e4; knight g5; pawns a2/c4/d5/g3/h2. Black: king f8; queen f2; rooks a8/d8; bishop c5; knight g6; pawns a7/b6/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook d8→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rf1 — rook a1→f1. Opponent replies Rxe4 (rook e8→e4, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxf2 — rook f1→f2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, short. The key move is Rf1.

Position data

FEN: r2r1k2/p4pp1/1p4n1/2bP2N1/2P1R3/6PQ/P4q1P/R6K b - - 5 26

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