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

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks a1/f1; bishop c4; knight e5; pawns a3/b2/c3/e4/g2/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishops c8/e7; pawns a6/b7/c5/d6/g7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf1+ — rook f8→f1, captures rook, gives check. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf1 — rook a1→f1, captures rook. Opponent replies dxe5 (pawn d6→e5, captures knight).
3. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen d3→d8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Bxd8 (bishop e7→d8, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rf8+ — rook f1→f8, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Qxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1bq1r1k/1p2b1p1/p2p3p/2p1N3/2B1P3/P1PQ2P1/1P4PP/R4RK1 b - - 0 18

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