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

Position

White: king c1; queen e3; rooks f3/g1; knight d1; pawns b2/c2/e4/g7. Black: king g8; queen e7; rooks a8/e5; bishop c4; pawns b4/c6/d6/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe4 — rook e5→e4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rf8+ — rook f3→f8, gives check. Opponent replies Rxf8 (rook a8→f8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qh6 — queen e3→h6.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, sacrifice, short. The key move is Rf8+.

Position data

FEN: r5k1/4q1P1/2pp4/4r2p/1pb1P3/4QR2/1PP5/2KN2R1 b - - 0 31

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