Chess Puzzle #l7f9j — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f2; queen e4; rooks c7/f3; knight g1; pawns a2/b2/d4/f4/g3. Black: king g8; queen h1; rook a8; bishop c8; knights f5/h2; pawns a5/b6/e6/g7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxf3 — knight h2→f3, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxc8+ — rook c7→c8, captures bishop, gives check. Opponent replies Rxc8 (rook a8→c8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen e4→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh7 (king g8→h7).
4. Best move: Qxf5+ — queen e6→f5, captures knight, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Rxc8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b3k1/2R3p1/1p2p3/p4n2/3PQP2/5RP1/PP3K1n/6Nq b - - 3 30

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