Chess Puzzle #Noa1c — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king c1; queen h3; rook f2; bishop a2; knight g1; pawns a3/b2/c3/d3/f6/g5/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/f8; bishop h1; knight f5; pawns a5/b4/c5/d7/e6/f7/g6. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc7 — queen d8→c7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf5 — rook f2→f5, captures knight. Opponent replies exf5 (pawn e6→f5, captures rook).
3. Best move: Ne2 — knight g1→e2. Opponent replies Qe5 (queen c7→e5).
4. Best move: Qh6 — queen h3→h6.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, quiet move, sacrifice. The key move Rxf5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2q1rk1/3p1p2/4pPp1/p1p2nP1/1p6/P1PP3Q/BP3R1P/2K3Nb b - - 1 24

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