Chess Puzzle #uba09 — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen e4; rook e8; pawns a4/d7/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen f7; rook f8; bishop d4; pawns a5/b6/c5/f4/h7. Black is ahead by 4 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: fxg3 — pawn f4→g3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook e8→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen f7→f8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qd5+ — queen e4→d5, gives check. Opponent replies Kg7 (king g8→g7).
4. Best move: Qg5+ — queen d5→g5, gives check.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 4Rrk1/3P1q1p/1p6/p1p5/P2bQp2/6P1/7P/7K b - - 1 32

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