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

Position

White: king h1; queen g3; rooks f2/f5; pawns a2/b2/c4/g2/h3. Black: king g7; queen f8; rooks d8/e8; pawns a6/b7/d3/g6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: d2 — pawn d3→d2. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc3+ — queen g3→c3, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g7→h7).
3. Best move: Rf7+ — rook f5→f7, gives check. Opponent replies Kg8 (king h7→g8).
4. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f7→f8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

collinear, crushing, endgame, fork, long. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3rrq2/1p4k1/p5pp/5R2/2P5/3p2QP/PP3RP1/7K b - - 0 32

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