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

Position

White: king g1; queen f2; rooks d1/e1; bishop d3; pawns b3/c2/f4/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen a4; rooks e7/e8; bishop b7; pawns a6/b6/c7/e5/f7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxf4 — queen a4→f4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf4 — queen f2→f4, captures queen. Opponent replies exf4 (pawn e5→f4, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxe7 — rook e1→e7, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxe7 (rook e8→e7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Be4 — bishop d3→e4.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Qxf4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4r1k1/1bp1rppp/pp6/4p3/q4P2/1P1B4/2P2QPP/3RR1K1 b - - 0 23

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