Chess Puzzle #Lsn04 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen c7; rooks b1/f1; pawns a2/d4/h2. Black: king h8; queen b2; rooks a8/g2; pawns a7/b7/c6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa2 — queen b2→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxb7 — rook b1→b7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxh2+ (rook g2→h2, captures pawn, gives check).
3. Best move: Qxh2 — queen c7→h2, captures rook. Opponent replies Qd5+ (queen a2→d5, gives check).
4. Best move: Qg2 — queen h2→g2.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move Rxb7 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r6k/ppQ4p/2p5/8/3P4/8/Pq4rP/1R3R1K b - - 1 25

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