Chess Puzzle #q9HL1 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen e5; rooks a1/c2; pawns b4/c3/f2. Black: king g7; queen b6; rooks c4/h3; pawns b7/d5/e6/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Kh6 — king g7→h6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Ra8 — rook a1→a8. Opponent replies f5 (pawn f7→f5).
3. Best move: Qf6 — queen e5→f6. Opponent replies Qc7 (queen b6→c7).
4. Best move: Rh8+ — rook a8→h8, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, endgame, long, quiet move. The key move is Ra8.

Position data

FEN: 8/1p3pk1/1q2p1p1/3pQ2p/1Pr5/2P4r/2R2P2/R4K2 b - - 1 34

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