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

Position

White: king b1; queen b2; rooks d1/g7; bishop f1; knights e6/h5; pawns d2/e3/f5/h2. Black: king f8; queen c5; rooks a8/e8; bishop d5; knight b4; pawns a3/b7/c7/f7/h7. White is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe6 — rook e8→e6, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf7+ — rook g7→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf7 (king f8→f7, captures rook).
3. Best move: fxe6+ — pawn f5→e6, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Ke8 (king f7→e8).
4. Best move: Qh8+ — queen b2→h8, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, attraction, intermezzo, long, middlegame. The key move Rxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3rk2/1pp2pRp/4N3/2qb1P1N/1n6/p3P3/1Q1P3P/1K1R1B2 b - - 2 24

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