Chess Puzzle #3FzSM — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king e2; queen b4; rooks a1/e1; bishop e3; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/c5/f2. Black: king g8; queen g2; rooks a8/f8; bishop h3; pawns a7/b7/c6/c7/f7/g7/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rad8 — rook a8→d8. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rg1 — rook e1→g1. Opponent replies Bg4+ (bishop h3→g4, gives check).
3. Best move: Qxg4 — queen b4→g4, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxg4+ (queen g2→g4, captures queen, gives check).
4. Best move: Rxg4 — rook g1→g4, captures queen.

Tactical themes

advantage, long, middlegame, X-ray attack. The key move is Rg1.

Position data

FEN: r4rk1/ppp2ppp/2p5/2P5/1Q6/2N1B2b/PP2KPq1/R3R3 b - - 1 19

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