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

Position

White: king b1; queen d5; rook h5; bishop f1; pawns a2/b2/c4/e3/g2/h6. Black: king g8; queen e7; rook f8; bishop f5; knight c5; pawns a7/b7/e4/g4/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qf7 — queen e7→f7. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf5 — rook h5→f5, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxd5 (queen f7→d5, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f5→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures rook).
4. Best move: cxd5 — pawn c4→d5, captures queen.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 5rk1/pp2q2p/7P/2nQ1b1R/2P1p1p1/4P3/PP4P1/1K3B2 b - - 0 27

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