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

Position

White: king c1; queen d2; rooks g1/g6; pawns a3/b2/c2/d3/e4/h3. Black: king g8; queen h4; rook a8; bishops c8/e7; pawns a6/b5/c6/e5/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bf6 — bishop e7→f6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rh6 — rook g6→h6. Opponent replies Qf4 (queen h4→f4).
3. Best move: Qxf4 — queen d2→f4, captures queen. Opponent replies exf4 (pawn e5→f4, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxf6 — rook h6→f6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, pin. The key move is Rh6.

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/4b1p1/p1p3R1/1p2p3/4P2q/P2P3P/1PPQ4/2K3R1 b - - 4 26

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