Chess Puzzle #JjK16 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks e1/e4; pawns b4/c3/f5/g4/h2. Black: king g8; queen a2; rooks d8/g5; pawns a7/b6/c7/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd2 — rook d8→d2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: h4 — pawn h2→h4. Opponent replies gxf5 (pawn g6→f5, captures pawn).
3. Best move: Re8+ — rook e4→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
4. Best move: hxg5 — pawn h4→g5, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move is h4.

Position data

FEN: 3r2k1/p1p2p2/1p4pp/5Pr1/1P2R1P1/2P2Q2/q6P/4R1K1 b - - 0 27

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