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

Position

White: king h1; queen f1; rook d8; pawns a2/b2/c3/e5/g2/h4. Black: king g7; queen c6; bishops c5/d5; pawns a6/c4/f7/g6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qe6 — queen c6→e6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qf6+ — queen f1→f6, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf6 (queen e6→f6, captures queen).
3. Best move: exf6+ — pawn e5→f6, captures queen, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf6 (king g7→f6, captures pawn).
4. Best move: Rxd5 — rook d8→d5, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, long. The key move exf6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3R4/5pk1/p1q3pp/2bbP3/2p4P/2P5/PP4P1/5Q1K b - - 4 41

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