Chess Puzzle #nC74F — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e6; rooks a1/f1; knights d2/d4; pawns a2/b2/d3/e4/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen e2; rooks b6/f8; bishop e7; knight c8; pawns a7/b4/b5/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd2 — queen e2→d2, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook f1→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Bxf8 (bishop e7→f8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rf1 — rook a1→f1. Opponent replies Qe3+ (queen d2→e3, gives check).
4. Best move: Kh1 — king g1→h1.

Tactical themes

advantage, clearance, long, middlegame. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2n2r1k/p3b1pp/1r2Q3/1p6/1p1NP3/3P4/PP1Nq1PP/R4RK1 b - - 0 23

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