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

Position

White: king b1; queen b8; rooks e1/e8; pawns a3/b4/c3. Black: king h8; queen c5; rooks f2/f8; pawns a5/g4/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: axb4 — pawn a5→b4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: axb4 — pawn a3→b4, captures pawn. Opponent replies Qf5+ (queen c5→f5, gives check).
3. Best move: Ka1 — king b1→a1. Opponent replies g5 (pawn g7→g5).
4. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook e8→f8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxf8 (queen f5→f8, captures rook).
5. Best move: Re8 — rook e1→e8.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 1Q2Rr1k/6pp/8/p1q5/1P4p1/P1P5/5r2/1K2R3 b - - 0 32

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