Chess Puzzle #McC9y — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g5; queen f4; rooks e7/f2; bishop b3; pawns a2/d5/g4/h3. Black: king g8; queen h8; rooks c1/d3; bishop g6; pawns a5/b4/d6/f7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxh3 — rook d3→h3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re8+ — rook e7→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
3. Best move: Rxh8+ — rook e8→h8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, short, skewer. The key move Rxh8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 6kq/4Rp2/3p2b1/p2P2K1/1p3QP1/1B1r3P/P4R2/2r5 b - - 2 46

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