Chess Puzzle #4BJ3X — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king h1; queen f5; rook g6; knights f1/h5; pawns e5/g2/h3. Black: king f8; queen d4; rook e8; bishop g5; pawns c4/d5/f4/f7/h6. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe5 — rook e8→e5, captures pawn. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qc8+ — queen f5→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Re8 (rook e5→e8).
3. Best move: Rg8+ — rook g6→g8, gives check. Opponent replies Kxg8 (king f8→g8, captures rook).
4. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen c8→e8, captures rook, gives check.

Tactical themes

attraction, crushing, deflection, long, middlegame. The key move Qxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4rk2/5p2/6Rp/3pPQbN/2pq1p2/7P/6P1/5N1K b - - 1 39

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