Chess Puzzle #3GLVI — Master, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d6; rook e3; bishop b4; pawns a3/d4/f2/h2. Black: king e8; queen b7; rooks b8/h8; knight d7; pawns a6/b5/c4/e6/f7/g6/h5. Black is ahead by 8 points of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nf6 — knight d7→f6. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe6+ — rook e3→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies fxe6 (pawn f7→e6, captures rook).
3. Best move: Qxe6+ — queen d6→e6, captures pawn, gives check. Opponent replies Kd8 (king e8→d8).
4. Best move: Ba5+ — bishop b4→a5, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Rxe6+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 1r2k2r/1q1n1p2/p2Qp1p1/1p5p/1BpP4/P3R3/5P1P/6K1 b k - 3 30

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