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

Position

White: king c1; queen e1; rooks f2/g1; knight e3; pawns a5/b2/c3/d5/e4/f3. Black: king c8; queen h1; rooks f8/g8; knight h4; pawns a6/b7/c7/d6/e5/g2/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxf3 — knight h4→f3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh1 — rook g1→h1, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxe1 (knight f3→e1, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f2→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook g8→f8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rxe1 — rook h1→e1, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2k2rr1/1pp5/p2p3p/P2Pp3/4P2n/2P1NP2/1P3Rp1/2K1Q1Rq b - - 3 30

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