Chess Puzzle #3uJo7 — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e7; rook e1; knight c3; pawns a2/b2/d4/f2/g2/h2. Black: king a6; queen c4; rooks d8/f8; pawns a7/b6/c6/h7. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (4 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Qxd4 — queen c4→d4, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qa3+ — queen e7→a3, gives check. Opponent replies Kb7 (king a6→b7).
3. Best move: Re7+ — rook e1→e7, gives check. Opponent replies Rd7 (rook d8→d7).
4. Best move: Rxd7+ — rook e7→d7, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Qxd7 (queen d4→d7, captures rook).
5. Best move: Qxf8 — queen a3→f8, captures rook.

Tactical themes

advantage, endgame, very long. The key move Rxd7+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 3r1r2/p3Q2p/kpp5/8/2qP4/2N5/PP3PPP/4R1K1 b - - 4 25

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