Chess Puzzle #1XoNJ — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king f1; queen e2; rook e1; knights b5/f3; pawns a4/c2/d5/f4/g3/h2. Black: king g8; queen g7; rooks c8/f8; knight a6; pawns a5/b6/c7/d6/f7/g6/h7. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rfe8 — rook f8→e8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen e2→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Rxe8 (rook c8→e8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qf8 (queen g7→f8).
4. Best move: Rxf8+ — rook e8→f8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

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

Position data

FEN: 2r2rk1/2p2pqp/np1p2p1/pN1P4/P4P2/5NP1/2P1Q2P/4RK2 b - - 2 23

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