Chess Puzzle #Keq5b — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f3; rooks a5/f1; bishop b3; pawns b4/d3/d5/g3/h2. Black: king h8; queen b8; rooks d2/e2; bishop d6; pawns b5/c7/d4/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxh2 — rook e2→h2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rfa1 — rook f1→a1. Opponent replies Rhe2 (rook h2→e2).
3. Best move: Ra8 — rook a5→a8. Opponent replies Re1+ (rook e2→e1, gives check).
4. Best move: Rxe1 — rook a1→e1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, pin, quiet move. The key move is Rfa1.

Position data

FEN: 1q5k/2p3pp/3b4/Rp1P4/1P1p4/1B1P1QP1/3rr2P/5RK1 b - - 4 28

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