Chess Puzzle #08XZX — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen c3; rooks b1/e1; bishop b2; pawns a4/c2/c4/e5/f2/h3. Black: king h8; queen h5; rooks e8/f7; knight c6; pawns a5/b7/c7/f4/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe5 — rook e8→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe5 — rook e1→e5, captures rook. Opponent replies Qxe5 (queen h5→e5, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxe5 — queen c3→e5, captures queen. Opponent replies Nxe5 (knight c6→e5, captures queen).
4. Best move: Bxe5 — bishop b2→e5, captures knight.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Rxe5 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 4r2k/1pp2rp1/2n4p/p3P2q/P1P2p2/2Q4P/1BP2P2/1R2R1K1 b - - 0 25

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