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

Position

White: king c1; queen g4; rooks d1/f6; pawns a3/b2/c2/c3/f2/f5. Black: king d7; queen b7; rooks e7/e8; knight f8; pawns a7/b6/c7/d6/e5. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (5 moves)

1. Opponent setup: e4 — pawn e5→e4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf8 — rook f6→f8, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook e8→f8, captures rook).
3. Best move: f6+ — pawn f5→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Re6 (rook e7→e6).
4. Best move: Qg7+ — queen g4→g7, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king d7→e8).
5. Best move: Rxd6 — rook d1→d6, captures pawn. Opponent replies cxd6 (pawn c7→d6, captures rook).
6. Best move: Qxb7 — queen g7→b7, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, deflection, discovered attack, fork, middlegame, sacrifice, very long. The key move Rxf8 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4rn2/pqpkr3/1p1p1R2/4pP2/6Q1/P1P5/1PP2P2/2KR4 b - - 0 24

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