Chess Puzzle #3rtzc — Expert, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h2; queen d1; rooks a1/e1; bishop c2; knight d5; pawns a2/b3/c4/e4/f2/f3. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks c8/f8; bishops h3/h4; pawns a6/b7/d6/e5/f7/g7/h6. Black is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Bxf2 — bishop h4→f2, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Re2 — rook e1→e2. Opponent replies Qh4 (queen d8→h4).
3. Best move: Rxf2 — rook e2→f2, captures bishop. Opponent replies Qxf2+ (queen h4→f2, captures rook, gives check).
4. Best move: Kxh3 — king h2→h3, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

deflection, equality, long, middlegame. The key move is Re2.

Position data

FEN: 2rq1rk1/1p3pp1/p2p3p/3Np3/2P1P2b/1P3P1b/P1B2P1K/R2QR3 b - - 3 20

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