Chess Puzzle #4Pg1e — Intermediate, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen e2; rooks e1/f1; knight c5; pawns a2/b2/c3/f4/g3/h2. Black: king d7; queen f6; rooks e8/h6; knights e6/g4; pawns a7/b7/c6/d5/f5/h3. Black is ahead by 3 points of material. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Nxc5 — knight e6→c5, captures knight. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Qxe8+ — queen e2→e8, captures rook, gives check. Opponent replies Kc7 (king d7→c7).
3. Best move: Re7+ — rook e1→e7, gives check.

Tactical themes

equality, middlegame, short. The key move Qxe8+ captures with check, forcing a response.

Position data

FEN: 4r3/pp1k4/2p1nq1r/2Np1p2/5Pn1/2P3Pp/PP2Q2P/4RRK1 b - - 8 26

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