Chess Puzzle #lIyO1 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h3; rooks f1/h4; bishop f6; knight f3; pawns c3/e5/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c7; rooks a2/f8; bishops c8/g7; pawns b6/d5/e6/f7/g6/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: h5 — pawn h6→h5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxh5 — rook h4→h5, captures pawn. Opponent replies Bxf6 (bishop g7→f6, captures bishop).
3. Best move: exf6 — pawn e5→f6, captures bishop. Opponent replies gxh5 (pawn g6→h5, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qh4 — queen h3→h4.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxh5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2b2rk1/2q2pb1/1p2pBpp/3pP3/7R/2P2N1Q/r4PPP/5RK1 b - - 1 22

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