Chess Puzzle #L0BIo — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d1; queen h7; rook h1; pawns a2/c2/c3/f2/g3. Black: king f8; queen c6; rook a8; pawns a7/b7/d6/e7/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxc3 — queen c6→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxh8 (queen c3→h8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxh8+ — rook h1→h8, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king f8→g7).
4. Best move: Rxa8 — rook h8→a8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, skewer. The key move Rxh8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4k2/pp2pp1Q/2qp2p1/8/8/2P3P1/P1P2P2/3K3R b - - 0 20

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