Chess Puzzle #0Af0x — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen d3; rook e1; bishop b2; knight g5; pawns a3/b5/b7/e2/f2/g3/h4. Black: king b8; queen g6; rooks e7/e8; knight f5; pawns a7/c7/d4/g7/h5. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe2 — rook e7→e2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe2 — rook e1→e2, captures rook. Opponent replies Nxh4+ (knight f5→h4, captures pawn, gives check).
3. Best move: gxh4 — pawn g3→h4, captures knight. Opponent replies Qxd3 (queen g6→d3, captures queen).
4. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e2→e8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move Rxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1k2r3/pPp1r1p1/6q1/1P3nNp/3p3P/P2Q2P1/1B2PPK1/4R3 b - - 2 27

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