Chess Puzzle #p2b8M — Expert, Black to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen g3; rook e1; bishop e6; pawns a4/b2/c3/g2/h2. Black: king h8; queen f2; rook f6; bishop b7; pawns a6/b6/g6/g7/h7. Material is balanced. Black to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qb8+ — queen g3→b8, gives check. Now Black to move.
2. Best move: Rf8 — rook f6→f8. Opponent replies Qxf8+ (queen b8→f8, captures rook, gives check).
3. Best move: Qxf8 — queen f2→f8, captures queen. Opponent replies Bd7 (bishop e6→d7).
4. Best move: Be4 — bishop b7→e4.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long. The key move is Rf8.

Position data

FEN: 7k/1b4pp/pp2Brp1/8/P7/2P3Q1/1P3qPP/4R2K w - - 1 25

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