Chess Puzzle #If5tP — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen f4; rook c8; pawns a2/d4/e3/f7/g2/g4. Black: king h8; queen e1; rook f8; bishop g6; pawns b3/b6/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qb4 — queen e1→b4. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qb8 — queen f4→b8. Opponent replies Bxf7 (bishop g6→f7, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook c8→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen b4→f8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxf8+ — queen b8→f8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, long, pin. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2R2r1k/5Ppp/1p4b1/8/3P1QP1/1p2P3/P5PK/4q3 b - - 1 39

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