Chess Puzzle #0jX3Y — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen h7; rooks e1/f1; bishop c2; pawns a3/b2/d5/f2/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen f6; rooks a8/e8; bishop c8; knight f4; pawns a6/b5/d6/f7/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe1 — rook e8→e1, captures rook. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qh8+ — queen h7→h8, gives check. Opponent replies Ke7 (king f8→e7).
3. Best move: Rxe1+ — rook f1→e1, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, intermezzo, middlegame, short. The key move Rxe1+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r1b1rk2/5ppQ/p2p1q2/1p1P4/5n2/P6P/1PB2PP1/4RRK1 b - - 2 23

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