Chess Puzzle #o0Iw4 — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f6; rook a1; pawns a2/b3/c3/e5/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen c5; rook g7; bishop e4; pawns a7/b5/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qc8 — queen c5→c8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rd1 — rook a1→d1. Opponent replies h6 (pawn h7→h6).
3. Best move: Rd8+ — rook d1→d8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd8 (queen c8→d8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen f6→d8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, fork, long, quiet move. The key move Qxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 7k/p5rp/5Qp1/1pq1P3/4b3/1PP5/P5PP/R6K b - - 1 26

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