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

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rook c1; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/d4/g2/h2. Black: king f8; queen d8; rook a8; bishop c8; knight c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe7 — queen d8→e7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rf1+ — rook c1→f1, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f8→e8).
3. Best move: Qg8+ — queen b3→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Kd7 (king e8→d7).
4. Best move: Rf7 — rook f1→f7.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, pin. The key move is Rf1+.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1k2/ppp3pp/2np4/8/3PN3/1Q6/PP4PP/2R3K1 b - - 0 17

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