Chess Puzzle #z2hHE — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks a1/f1; bishops g5/h7; knight d2; pawns a2/b2/c3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h8; queen d8; rooks a8/e2; bishops c5/g4; knights c6/f6; pawns a7/b7/d5/f7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxf2 — rook e2→f2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxf2 — rook f1→f2, captures rook. Opponent replies Bxf2+ (bishop c5→f2, captures rook, gives check).
3. Best move: Kxf2 — king g1→f2, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qb6+ (queen d8→b6, gives check).
4. Best move: Be3 — bishop g5→e3. Opponent replies d4 (pawn d5→d4).
5. Best move: cxd4 — pawn c3→d4, captures pawn.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, very long. The key move Rxf2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2q3k/pp3p1B/2n2n2/2bp2B1/6b1/2P4P/PPQNrPP1/R4RK1 b - - 0 17

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