Chess Puzzle #WfR5A — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; rooks b1/f3; pawns a2/c4/d5/g2/g5. Black: king h7; queen a3; rooks a8/f8; knight c2; pawns a6/b7/d6/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa2 — queen a3→a2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf7+ — rook f3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
3. Best move: Rf1 — rook b1→f1. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook f8→f7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen f2→f7, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, quiet move. The key move Rxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4r2/1p3p1k/p2p2pp/3P2P1/2P5/q4R2/P1n2QP1/1R4K1 b - - 0 26

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