Chess Puzzle #12PbF — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen f5; rooks a1/e1; pawns a2/b2/d3/f2/g2/h3. Black: king h7; queen d4; rooks h6/h8; bishop d6; pawns a7/b7/c6/e5/g7. Black is ahead by 2 points of material. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rg6 — rook h6→g6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re4 — rook e1→e4. Opponent replies Rf8 (rook h8→f8).
3. Best move: Qh5+ — queen f5→h5, gives check. Opponent replies Rh6 (rook g6→h6).
4. Best move: Rxd4 — rook e4→d4, captures queen. Opponent replies Rxh5 (rook h6→h5, captures queen).
5. Best move: Rxd6 — rook d4→d6, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, middlegame, very long. The key move is Re4.

Position data

FEN: 7r/pp4pk/2pb3r/4pQ2/3q4/3P3P/PP3PP1/R3R1K1 b - - 1 23

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