Chess Puzzle #sqjC9 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d3; rooks b7/b8; bishop f4; pawns a4/c3/f3/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen c6; rooks c5/f8; knight c4; pawns a5/d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxa4 — queen c6→a4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook b8→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxf8 (king g8→f8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qh7 — queen d3→h7. Opponent replies Qa1+ (queen a4→a1, gives check).
4. Best move: Kf2 — king g1→f2. Opponent replies Qb2+ (queen a1→b2, gives check).
5. Best move: Rxb2 — rook b7→b2, captures queen.

Tactical themes

crushing, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxf8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1R3rk1/1R3pp1/2q1p2p/p1rp4/P1n2B2/2PQ1P2/6PP/6K1 b - - 3 26

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