Chess Puzzle #1HWAU — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks a1/e1; bishop c5; pawns a2/c4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen f5; rooks a8/d8; knights b6/c6; pawns a7/b7/c7/g7/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Re8 — rook d8→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen e3→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook a8→e8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kf7 (king g8→f7).
4. Best move: Rf8+ — rook e8→f8, gives check.

Tactical themes

advantage, kingside attack, long, middlegame. The key move Qxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: r2r2k1/ppp3pp/1nn5/2B2q2/2P5/4Q3/P4PPP/R3R1K1 b - - 2 18

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