Chess Puzzle #4VOce — Advanced, White to move, middlegame

Position

White: king g1; queen d4; rooks a1/e1; bishops e2/f4; knight f3; pawns a2/b2/c2/d3/f2/g2/h2. Black: king g8; queen d8; rooks a8/e8; bishops d5/d6; knight b6; pawns a7/b7/c7/f7/g7/h7. White is ahead by 1 point of material. White to move.

Solution (3 moves)

1. Opponent setup: Rxe2 — rook e8→e2, captures bishop. Now White to move.
2. Best move: Rxe2 — rook e1→e2, captures rook. Opponent replies Bxf3 (bishop d5→f3, captures knight).
3. Best move: gxf3 — pawn g2→f3, captures bishop. Opponent replies Bxf4 (bishop d6→f4, captures bishop).
4. Best move: Qxf4 — queen d4→f4, captures bishop.

Tactical themes

advantage, hanging piece, long, middlegame. The key move Rxe2 wins material.

Position data

FEN: r2qr1k1/ppp2ppp/1n1b4/3b4/3Q1B2/3P1N2/PPP1BPPP/R3R1K1 b - - 2 16

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