Chess Puzzle #38Yg9 — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e3; rooks c1/e1; knight e5; pawns c3/d4/f3/g2/h3. Black: king g8; queen d6; rooks b3/c8; knight e4; pawns d5/e6/f7/g7/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rbxc3 — rook b3→c3, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: fxe4 — pawn f3→e4, captures knight. Opponent replies Rxc1 (rook c3→c1, captures rook).
3. Best move: Rxc1 — rook e1→c1, captures rook. Opponent replies Rxc1+ (rook c8→c1, captures rook, gives check).
4. Best move: Qxc1 — queen e3→c1, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame. The key move fxe4 wins material.

Position data

FEN: 2r3k1/5pp1/3qp2p/3pN3/3Pn3/1rP1QP1P/6P1/2R1R1K1 b - - 0 28

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