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

Position

White: king g1; queen g4; rooks f1/f3; pawns c3/d5/e5/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen b2; rooks a7/c8; pawns a6/e6/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxc3 — rook c8→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe6 — queen g4→e6, captures pawn. Opponent replies h6 (pawn h7→h6).
3. Best move: Rxf7 — rook f3→f7, captures pawn. Opponent replies Rxf7 (rook a7→f7, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen e6→f7, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/r4ppp/p3p3/3PP3/6Q1/2P2R2/1q4PP/5RK1 b - - 0 26

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