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

Position

White: king f1; queen d2; rook d1; bishop g3; knight e4; pawns a2/b2/c5/e5/f3/f4/h2. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks a8/f8; bishop h6; pawns a6/b5/c7/e6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rad8 — rook a8→d8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd8 — queen d2→d8, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxd8 (rook f8→d8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d1→d8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Rxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/2p2p1p/p1q1p1pb/1pP1P3/4NP2/5PB1/PP1Q3P/3R1K2 b - - 3 23

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