Chess Puzzle #18eKg — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king d2; queen a3; rook d6; bishop e3; pawns a2/c3/f2. Black: king e8; queen g1; rooks a8/h8; bishop c6; pawns a6/f6/h7. Black is ahead by 5 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rd8 — rook a8→d8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxd8+ — rook d6→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kxd8 (king e8→d8, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qd6+ — queen a3→d6, gives check. Opponent replies Kc8 (king d8→c8).
4. Best move: Qxc6+ — queen d6→c6, captures bishop, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, exposed king, fork, long, middlegame. The key move Rxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r3k2r/7p/p1bR1p2/8/8/Q1P1B3/P2K1P2/6q1 b kq - 3 25

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