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

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks e6/h6; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/d3/d5/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f7; rooks a8/f8; bishop e5; knight h7; pawns a6/b5/c5/d6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rae8 — rook a8→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh7+ — rook h6→h7, captures knight, gives check. Opponent replies Qxh7 (queen f7→h7, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rh6 — rook e6→h6. Opponent replies Bd4+ (bishop e5→d4, gives check).
4. Best move: Kf1 — king g1→f1.

Tactical themes

advantage, defensive move, fork, long, middlegame, pin, sacrifice. The key move Rxh7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4r1k/5q1n/p2pR2R/1ppPb3/8/3P1N1Q/PP4PP/6K1 b - - 12 25

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