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

Position

White: king h1; queen d5; rooks d1/f1; pawns a2/c3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen b2; rooks f7/f8; pawns a7/b7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe2 — queen b2→e2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rde1 — rook d1→e1. Opponent replies Qh5 (queen e2→h5).
3. Best move: Qxh5 — queen d5→h5, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxf1+ (rook f7→f1, captures rook, gives check).
4. Best move: Rxf1 — rook e1→f1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move is Rde1.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/pp3rp1/7p/3Q4/8/2P4P/Pq4P1/3R1R1K b - - 3 26

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