Chess Puzzle #J5Tno — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d5; rooks f1/f4; pawns a2/b3/c2/e4/g4/h3. Black: king f8; queen e7; rooks g8/h6; knight f6; pawns a3/c5/d6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe5 — queen e7→e5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe5 — queen d5→e5, captures queen. Opponent replies dxe5 (pawn d6→e5, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxf6+ — rook f4→f6, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf6 (rook h6→f6, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rxf6+ — rook f1→f6, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, exposed king, long, middlegame. The key move Rxf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5kr1/4q3/3p1n1r/2pQ4/4PRP1/pP5P/P1P5/5RK1 b - - 4 40

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