Chess Puzzle #KC456 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c6; rooks f1/f2; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g5; rooks e8/f8; knight f6; pawns a7/e6/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxe4 — knight f6→e4, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f2→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook e8→f8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen c6→e6, captures pawn, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4rrk1/p5p1/2Q1pn1p/6q1/4N3/8/PP3RPP/5RK1 b - - 4 22

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