Chess Puzzle #3l5r9 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g2; queen a5; rooks e1/e2; pawns a3/b2/c3/f3/g3/g4. Black: king h8; queen f6; rook d8; bishops e6/g7; pawns a6/c4/f7/g6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bd5 — bishop e6→d5. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxd8+ — queen a5→d8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd8 (queen f6→d8, captures queen).
3. Best move: Re8+ — rook e2→e8, gives check. Opponent replies Qxe8 (queen d8→e8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Rxe8+ — rook e1→e8, captures queen, gives check.

Tactical themes

crushing, fork, long, middlegame, sacrifice. The key move Qxd8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r3k/5pbp/p3bqp1/Q7/2p3P1/P1P2PP1/1P2R1K1/4R3 b - - 16 37

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