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

Position

White: king g1; queen b3; rooks b1/b6; knights e2/g5; pawns a4/c3/e4/f2/g2/h4. Black: king g8; queen c4; rooks c8/d8; bishop g7; knight f8; pawns a5/e5/f7/g6/h5. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxe2 — queen c4→e2, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxf7+ — queen b3→f7, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kh8 (king g8→h8).
3. Best move: Rb7 — rook b6→b7. Opponent replies Rd7 (rook d8→d7).
4. Best move: Rxd7 — rook b7→d7, captures rook.

Tactical themes

crushing, long, master, middlegame, quiet move. The key move Qxf7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 2rr1nk1/5pb1/1R4p1/p3p1Np/P1q1P2P/1QP5/4NPP1/1R4K1 b - - 2 26

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