Chess Puzzle #KI04g — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c1; rooks e1/f1; pawns a2/b3/c4/d3/d5/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen g5; rook f8; bishop h5; knight e5; pawns a7/b7/c7/d6/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxf3+ — knight e5→f3, captures pawn, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf3 — rook f1→f3, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxc1 (queen g5→c1, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f3→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rxc1 — rook e1→c1, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/ppp3pp/3p4/3Pn1qb/2P5/1P1P1P2/P5PP/2Q1RRK1 b - - 6 22

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